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ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  FIVE 
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OEc 


BOM— 048— Form  8 


THE  CACTACEAE 


DESCRIPTIONS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS  OF 
PLANTS  OF  THE  CACTUS  FAMILY 


BY 

N.  L.  BRITTON  and  J.  N.  ROSE 

Volume  I 


Thh  CARNEGiii  Institution  of  Washington 
Washington,  1919 


CARNEGIE  INSTITUTION  OF  WASHINGTON 

Publication  No.  248,  Volume  I 


Reprinted  by 
SCOTT  E.  HASELTON 

ABBEY  SAN  ENCINO  PRESS 

PASADENA,    CALIFORNIA 

1937 


CONTENTS 


Introduction 

Order  Cactales 

Family  Cactaceae 

Key  to  Tribes 

Tribe  Pereskieae 

Pereskia  

Key  to  Species 

Tribe  Opuntieae 

Key  to  Genera 
Pereskiopsis 

Pterocactus 

Nopalea 

Tacinga 

Maihiienia  

Opunt.a 

Key  to  Subgenera  and  Set 
Subgenus  Cylindropuntia 
Series  Ramosissimae 
Series  Leptocaules.  .  . 
Series  Thurberianae      , 
Series  Echinocarpae 
Series  Bigelovianae.  .  . 

Series  Imbricatae 

Series  Fulgidae 

Series  Vestitae 

Series  Clavarioides.  .  . 

Series  Salmianae 

Series  Subulatae 

Series  Miquelianae.  .  . 

Series  Clavatae 

Subgenus  Tephrocactus.  . 
Series  Weberianae .  .  .  . 

Series  Floccosae 

Series  Glomeratae.  .  .  , 
Series  Pentlandianae    . 


Family  Cactaceae — tonl'nund. 
Tribe  Opuntieae — conlniiinJ. 
Opuntia— co«/;H«f^/, 

Subgenus  Platyopuntia 99 

Series  Pumilae 100 

Series  Curassavicae 102 

Series  Aurantiacae 106 

Series  Tunae 110 

Series  Basilares 118 

Series  Inamoenae 125 

Series  Tortispinae 126 

Series  Sulphureae 1}3 

Series  Strigiles 136 

Series  Setispinae 136 

Series  Phaeacanthae 139 

Series  Elatiores 149 

Series  Elatae 156 

Series  Scheerianae 159 

Series  Dillenianae 159 

Series  Macdougalianae 169 

Series  Tomentosae 172 

Series  Leucotrichae 174 

Series  Orbiculatae 176 

Series  Ficus-indicae 177 

Series  Streptacanthae 181 

Series  Robustae 191 

Series  Polyacanthae 193 

Series  Stenopetalae 200 

Series  Palmadorae 201 

Series  Spinosissimae 202 

Series  Brasilienses 209 

Series  Ammophilae 211 

Series  Chaffeyanae 213 

Grusonia 215 

Appendix 216 

Index 227 


12S555 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PLATES  'pr" 

Platf     1.    Cactus   Dtscrt   in   Arizona Frontispiece 

Plate    2.    (1  )   Flowering  branch  of  Pereskia  pereskia.  (2  and  3)  Fruit  of  Pereskia  pereskia.  (4)  Leafy  branch  of 

Pereskia  sacharosa.   (5)   ProHferous  fruit  of  Pereskia  sacharosa lu 

Plate    3.    (1)   Flowering  branch  of  Pereskia  grandifoha.    (2)  Leafy  branch  of  Pereskiopsis  chapistle.  (3)   Leafy 

branch  of  Pereskiopsis  pititache 20 

Plate    •).     (1)   Upper  part  of  flowering  joint  of  Nopalea  cocheniUifera.     (2)    Upper   part  of  flowering   joint  of 

Nopalea  auberi.    (3)   Fruit  of  Nopalea  auberi.    (4)   Flowering  joint  of  Nopalea  dejecta 3-i 

Plate    ^.    Nopalea  auberi  as  it  grows  near  Mitla.  Mexico 38 

Plate    6.     (1  and  2)   Branch  of  Opuntia  mortolensis.    (3  and  4)  Branch  of  Opuntia  leptocaulis.    ( ^  )   Flowering 

branch  of  Opuntia  arbuscula.    (6)    Flowering  branch   of  Opuntia  kleiniac 18 

Plate    7.     (1)    Leafy  branch  of  Opuntia  kleiniae.    (2)  Terminal   branch   of  Opuntia   vivipara.      (3)    Branch   of 

Opuntia    parryi.     (4)    Flowering    branch    of    Opuntia    echinocarpa.     (5)     Fruiting    branch    of 

Opuntia   versicolor 50 

Plate    8.    (1)   Type  plant  of  Opuntia  vivipara,  near  Tucson,  Arizona.    (2)   A  much  branched  plant  of  Opuntia 

versicolor 52 

Plate    9.    (1)   Joint  of  Opuntia  tetracantha.    (2.  3.  4.  5)  Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  versicolor.    (6)  Proliferous 

fruits  of  Opuntia  fulgida 54 

Plate  10.     (1  )   Joint  of  Opuntia  tunicata.    (2,  3.  4.  5)  Joint  of  Opuntia  spinosior 66 

Plate  11.     (1  )    Le.ify  branch  of  Opuntia  imbricata.    (2)   Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  prolifera.    (3.  4)   Form  of 

Opuntia  alcahes.    (  5,  6)  Opuntia  vestita 68 

Plate  12.     (1  )    Clump  of  plants  of  Opuntia  fulgida.    (2)   A  very  open  plant  of  Opuntia  spinosior 70 

Plate  1?.     (1  )   Opuntia  exaltata  as  seen  in  the  highlands  of  Peru.    (2)  Clump  of  Opuntia  floccosa  as  it  grows  in 

the  valleys  of  the  Andes  of  eastern  Peru "6 

Plate  14.     (1)    Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  burrageana.   (2)  Opuntia  cylindrica.  (3.  4)  Joint  of  Opuntia  stanlyi. 

( 5  )   Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  macrorhiza     ~8 

Plate  15.    (1.  2)  Part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  exaltata.    (3)  L'pper  part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  macrarthra.     (4)   Upper 

part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  tortispina 80 

Plate  16.     (1  )    Tup  of  Opuntia  miquelii.    (2)  Old  and  young  joints  of  Opuntia  invicta.    (3)  Upper  part  of  joint 

of  Opuntia  ignescens 98 

Plate  1".     (1)    Joint  of  Opuntia  pascoensis.     (2)   Joints  of   Opuntia   taylori.     (3,    4)    Form   of   Opuntia   repens. 

(5)    Flower  of  (Jpuntia  repens.    (6)    Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  drummondii 102 

Pl..\te  18.     (1)    Two  plants  of  Opuntia  drummondii.    (2)  Joints  of  Opuntia  retrorsa  with  flower.      (3)   Joints  of 

Opuntia   triacantha.      (1)    Joint    of   Opuntia    jamaicensis.      (5)    Section    of    fruit    of    Opuntia 

jamaicensis 104 

Pl.\te  19.     (1)    Plant   of  Opuntia   jamaicensis.     (2.    3)    Flower  of  Opunti.i  luniaiccnsis.     (i)   Longitudinal  secticui 

of    flower    of   Opuntia    jamaicensis.       (5.6)    Stamen    .it    Opunti.i    i.im.iRt-nsiv       (")    Style    of 

Opuntia   jamaicensis 112 

Plate  20.     (1)    Flowering  lomt  of  Opuntia  decumhens.     (2)    Fruitin.i;   iiunt   ,.t   Opuntia  dccumbens.     (3)    Hybrid      116 

Plate  21.    Group  of  hardy  Orunti.i.  mostlv  Opunti.i  toitispin.i.   in  j^r.uiiuls   .'t   New  York  Botanical  Garden 126 

Plate  22.     (1)    Joints  of  Opunti.i  iiiicrotlasys.    (2)    Flowering  |oiiu  I't  Opunti.i  macrarthra.    (3)   Fruit  of  Opuntia 

macrarthra.     (O   Seed  of  Opuntia  macrarthra.     O)    FlowLring  |oint  of  Opuntia  opuntia 128 

Plate  23.     (1)    Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  fuscoatra.    (2)   Upper  part  of  |omt  of  Opuntia  sulphurea.    (3)  Joint 

of  Opuntia  tenuispina 132 

Plate  24.     ( 1 )    Plant   of  Opuntia   santa-rita.     ( 2 )    Plant   of    Opuntia    discata 142 

Plate  25.     (1)    Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  atrispma.     (2)    Flowering  |oint  of  Opuntia  phaeacantha.     (3)  L'pper 

part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  enpelmannii Il4 

Pl.\TE26.     (1)    Flowering  |oint  of  Opuntia  bcrgeriana.     (2)    Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  elatior.     (3)    Flowering 

joint  of  Opuntia  boldinghii.     (1.   5)    Joint  of  Opuntia  elata 152 

Plate  27.     (1)   L'pper  part  of  fruiting  joint  of  Opuntia  schumannii.     (2)    Flower  of  Opuntia  schumannii.    (3) 

Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  vulgaris.     (4)   Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  stricta 156 

Plate  28.     (1)    Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  laevis.    (2)   Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  dillenii.    (3)  Upper  part  of 

flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  aciculata 160 

Plate  29.     (1 )    View   of   Opuntia   keyensis.     (2)    View   of  Opuntia  dillenii 162 

Plate  30.    Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  linguiformis 164 

Plate  31.    Flowering  joints  of  Opuntia   lindheimeri.     (1)    Orange-flowered   race.     (2)    Red-flowered  race 166 

Plate  32.     (1 )    Upper  part  of  flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  leptocarpa.  (2)  Fruit  of  Opuntia  leptocarpa.  (3)  Flower- 
ing joint  of  Opuntia  velutina.     (4)   Upper  part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  megacantha 172 

Plate  33.    (1)   Upper  part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  tomentosa.     (2)    Flowering  joint  of   Opuntia  brasiliensis.     (3) 

Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  brasiliensis.    (4)  Joint  of  Grusonia  bradtiana 17-1 

Plate  34.     (1  )    Part  of  loint  of  Opuntia  leucotricha.    (2)  Part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  maxima.    (3)  Joint  of  Opuntia 

lasiacantha.    (4)  Joint  of  Opuntia  robusta      180 

Plate  35.    (1)    Plant  of  Opuntia  fragilis.    (2)  Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  rhodantha.    (3)   Flowering  joint  of 

Opuntia    polyacantha 194 

Plate  36.    (  1  )    Flowering  loint  of  Opuntia  spinosissima.     (2.  3)  Single  flower  of  Opuntia  spinosissima.    (4,  5) 

Longitudinal   section   of   flower  of   Opuntia  spinosissima.  (6)  Cross-section  of  ovary  of  Opuntia 

spinosissima.     ( 7 )    Style  of  Opuntia  spinosissima    204 


THE  CACTACEAE, 
TEXT-FIGURES 


1.  Hedge  of  Pereskia  pereskia 

2.  Tree  of  Pereskia  autumnalis 

3.  Branches  of  Pereskia  autumnalis 

4.  Branch  of  Pereskia  lychuidiflora 

5.  Leafy  branch  of  Pereskia  nicoyana 

6.  Brancli   nf   Pcrtskia  zehntneri 

7.  Culiiv.in.l  plain  of  Pereskia  zehmneri 

8.  Herh.niiiin  siuuincn  of  Pereskia  moorei... 

9.  Tree  of  Peicskia  guamacho 

10.  Flowering  branch  of  Pereskia  guannacho.  .  . 

11.  Leafy  branch  and  flower  of  Pereskia 

Columbiana 

12.  Branch  and  frmt  nl   l\i\skia  bleo 

13.  Fruit  of   l'u.sk,.,   ImI,,uis,s    

14.  Leafy  braiicli  ,•[   IVuski.i  hahiensis 

15.  Tree  of  Pereskia  bahiensis 

16.  Hedge  containmg  Pereskia  grandifolia 

17.  Branch  of  Pereskia  zinniaeflora 

18.  Tree  of   Pereskia  cubensis 

19.  Leafy  branch  of  Pereskia  cubensis 

20.  Branch  and  fruit  of  Pereskia  portulaci- 

foha 

21.  Potted  plant  grown  from  a  cutting  of 

Pereskiopsis  velutina 

22.  Branch  of  Pereskiopsis  diguetii 

2  3.  Branch  of  Pereskiopsis  opuntiaeflora 

24.  Branch  of  Pereskiopsis  rotundifolia 

25.  Shows  a  clump  of  Pereskiopsis  rotundi- 

folia   

26.  Branch   of  Pereskiopsis  porteri 

27.  Branch   of  Pereskiopsis  aquosa 

28.  Leaf  of  Pereskiopsis  kellermanii 

29.  Leaf  of  Pereskiopsis  kellermanii 

30.  Leaf  of  Pereskiopsis  kellermanii 

31.  Seed  of  Pterocactus  hickenii 

32.  Plant   of   Pterocactus   hickenii 

33.  Branch  of  Pterocactus  fischen 

34.  Seed  of  Pterocactus  fischeri 

35.  Seed  of  Pterocactus  pumilus 

36.  Seed  of  Pterocactus  tuberosus 

37.  Plant  of  Pterocactus  tuberosus,  showing 

a  very  large  root 

38.  Potted  plant  of  Pterocactus   tuberosus 

39.  Joint  of  Nopalea  guatemalensis 

40.  Joint  of  Nopalea  lutea 

41.  Large  plant  of  Nopalea  dejecta 

42.  Joints  of  Nopalea  dejecta 

43.  Joints  of  Nopalea  karwinskiana 

44.  Joint  of  Nopalea  inaperta 

45.  Flower  of  Tacinga  funalis 

46.  Longitudinal    section   of   flower   of  Tacinga 


47.  Section  of  stem  of  Tacinga  funalis 

48.  Tip  of  young  branch  of  Tacinga  funalis.  . 

49.  Plant  of  Tacinga  funalis,  climbing  over 

bushes 

50.  Plant  of  Maihuenia  valentinii 

51.  Fruit  of  Maihuenia  poeppigii 

52.  Joint  and  flower  of  Maihuenia  brachydel- 

phys 

53.  Plant  of  Maihuenia  tehuelches 

54.  Branch  of  Opuntia  ramossissima 

55.  Section  of  stem  of  Opuntia  ramosissima.  . 

56.  Plant  of  Opuntia  leptocaulis 


57.  Section  of  stem  of  Opuntia  leptocaulis.  .  .  . 

58.  Joint   of  Opuntia  caribaea 

5'),  'I  tiK  <  •  I  1 !  "f  Opuntia  caribaea 

6(1.  (  i    ■    ;      :   I  'I     iiii.i  arbuscula 

61 .  I  1...      ill:  .   .11,1  arbuscula 

62.  fiuuui.u  lii.uiili  of  Opuntia  arbuscula 

63.  Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  thurberi 

64.  Branch  of  Opuntia  davisii 

65.  Branch  of  Opuntia  viridiflora 

66.  Branch  of  Opuntia  whipplei 

67.  Plant  of  Opuntia  acanthocarpa 

68.  Joint  of  Opuntia  serpentina 

69.  Plant  of  Opuntia  bigelovii 

70.  Joint  of  Opuntia  bigelovii 

71.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  ciribe 

72.  Joint  of  Opuntia  ciribe 

73.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  cholla 

74.  Joint  of  Opuntia  cholla 

75.  Proliferous  fruits  of  Opuntia  cholla,  devel- 

oping new  joints 

''6.  Proliferous  fruits  of  Opuntia  cholla. 

developing  new  joints 

77.  Joints  of  Opuntia   loydii 

"8.  Plant  of  Opuntia  Iloydii 

^9.  Plant  of  Opuntia  imbricaia 

SO.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  tunicata 

81.  Plant  of  Opuntia  pallida 

82.  Potted   plant  of  Opuntia  molesta 

83.  Joint  of  Opuntia  prolifera 

84.  Pntte.l  plain  ut  Opuntia  prolifera 

85.  PiitteJ   pl.ini  .4   Opuiiiia  alcahes 

S6.  J.iint   ..f  Opuiiii.i    xciscliaffeltii 

87.  Grafted  pl.nits  of  ( )pumia  clavarioides 

88.  Potted  pl.uii  nf  Opuntia  salmiana 

90.  Potted  plant  ot  Opuntia  subulata 

91.  Joint  of  Opuntia  pachypus 

92.  Joints  of  Opuntia  schottii 

93.  Joints  of  Opuntia  clavata 

94.  Joints  of  Opuntia  parishii 

95.  Joints  of  Opuntia  pulchella 

96.  Plants  of  Opuntia  vilis 

97.  Joints  and  cluster  of  spines  of  Opuntia 

bulbispina 

98.  Joints  of  Opuntia  grahamii 

99.  Plants  of  Opuntia  weberi 

100.  Joints  of  Opuntia  weberi 

101.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  floccosa 

102.  Mound  of  Opuntia  lagopus 

103.  Root,  joints,  and  flower  of  O.  australis.  .  .  . 

104.  Joints  of  Opuntia  glomerata 

105.  Joint  of  Opuntia  aoracantha 

106.  Joint  of  Opuntia  rauppiana 

107.  Flowering  plant  and  fruit  of  Opuntia  sub- 


Joints  of  Opuntia  hickenii 

Joint  of  Opuntia  darwinii 

Joints  of  Opuntia  atacamensis 

Joints   of   Opuntia  russellii 

Joints  of  Opuntia  ovata 

Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  sphaerica. 

Joint  of  Opuntia  skottsbergii 

Joint  of  Opuntia  nigrispina 

Joint  of  Opuntia  pentlandii 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


TEXT-FIGURES— continued. 


117.  Joints  of  Opuntia  pentlandii 98 

118.  Joint  of  Opuntia  ignescens 98 

119.  Mound  of  Opuntia  ignescens 98 

120.  Plant  of  Opuntia  campestris 99 

121.  Joints  of  Opuntia  ignota 99 

122.  Thicket  of  Opuntia  pumila 100 

123.  Joints  of  Opuntia  pumila 101 

124.  Joints  of  Opuntia  pubescens 101 

125.  Joints  of  Opuntia  curassavica 102 

126.  Joints  of  Opuntia  borinquensis 104 

127.  Joints  of  Opuntia  militaris 104 

128.  Joints  and  flower  of  Opuntia  tracyi 105 

129.  Joints  and  flowers  of  Opuntia  pusilla 106 

130.  Joints  of  Opuntia  aurantiaca 107 

131.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  schickendantzii.  .  .  107 

132.  Plant  of  Opuntia  kiska-loro 108 

133.  Joints  of  Opuntia  canina 108 

134.  Plant  of  Opuntia   retrorsa 109 

135.  Plant  of  Opuntia  utkilio 110 

136.  Joints  of  Opuntia  anacantha 110 

137.  Thicket  of  Opuntia  bella Ill 

138.  Joints  of  Opuntia  bella 112 

139.  Joint  of  Opuntia  bella 112 

140.  Plant  of  Opuntia  triacantha 113 

141.  Plant  of  Opuntia  tuna 114 

142.  Joints  of  Opuntia  tuna 114 

143.  Thicket  of  Opuntia  antillana 115 

144.  Joints  of  Opuntia  antillana 115 

145.  Plant  of  Opuntia  decumbens 117 

146.  Plant  of  Opuntia  depressa 118 

147.  Joints   of  Opuntia   lubrica 119 

148.  Landscape  showing  Opuntia  tieleasei 119 

149.  Joints  of  Opuntia  basilaris 120 

150.  Plant  of  Opuntia  microdasys 121 

151.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia,  probable  hybrid.  .  121 

152.  Joint  of  Opuntia  macrocalyx 122 

153.  Plant  of  Opuntia  rufida 122 

154.  Plant  of  Opuntia  pycnantha 123 

155.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  comonduensis.  .  .  .  124 

156.  Plant  of  Opuntia  inamoena 125 

157.  Joint  of  Opuntia  inamoena 125 

158.  Joints  of  Opuntia  allauei 126 

159.  Joints  of  Opuntia  pollardii 126 

160.  Plant  of  Opunti.i   i.puntia      128 

161.  Fruit  of  Opuntia  .yramlifl.ira 129 

162.  Flowering  joints  of  Opuntia  grandiflora.  .  .  129 

163.  Flowering  joints  of  Opuntia  austrina 130 

164.  Joints,  flower,  and  fruit  of  O.  plumbea.  ...  131 

165.  Fruit  of  Opentia  stenochila 132 

166.  Fruit  of  Opuntia  stenochila 132 

167.  Joint  of  Opuntia  stenochila 132 

168.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  delicata 133 

169.  Joint  of  Opuntia  soehrensii 135 

170.  Joint  of  Opunti.i   micmdisca 135 

171.  Joints  of  Opunti.i   stnt;,!       n6 

172.  Joints  of  Opunti.i  hallii              1  3"' 

173.  Joints  of  Opuntia  pi.itMi    138 

174.  Joint  of  Opuntia  setispina 138 

175.  Plant  and  fruit  of  Opuntia  mackensensii .  .  .  139 

176.  Joint  of  Opuntia  macrocentra 140 

177.  Joint  of  Opuntia  tardospina 141 

178.  Cluster  of  spines  of  Opuntia  gosseliniana.  .  141 

179.  Joint  of  Opuntia  gosseliniana 141 

180.  Joint  of  Opuntia  angustata 142 

181.  Plant  of  Opuntia  azurea 143 

182.  Joints  of  Opuntia  azurea 143 

183.  Joint  of  Opuntia  covillei 145 

184.  Joint  of  Opuntia  covillei 145 


PAGE 

Joint  of  Opuntia  vaseyi 146 

Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  occidentalis 147 

Joint  of  Opuntia  brunnescens 150 

Fruit  of  Opuntia  brunnescens 150 

Joint  of  Opuntia  galapageia 150 

Flower  of  Opuntia  galapageia 150 

Joint  and  cluster  of  spines  of  Opuntia 

galapageia 151 

Flowering   joint  of  Opuntia  delaetiana.  ...  152 

Joints  of  Opuntia  hanburyana 154 

Joint  of  Opuntia  quiiensis 154 

Joint  of  Opuntia  distans 155 

Joint  of  Opuntia  elata 15~ 

Joints  of  Opuntia  cardiosperma 15" 

Joint  of  Opuntia  scheeri 159 

Plant  of  Opuntia  chlorotica 160 

Joints  of  Opuntia  chlorotica 160 

Plant  of  Opuntia  dillenii 162 

Joint  of  Opuntia  tapona I6l 

Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  littoralis 164 

Joints  of  Opuntia  cantabrigiensis 167 

Part  of  joint  and  cluster  of  spines  of 

Opuntia  procumbens 167 

Joint  of  Opuntia  Canada 167 

Joint  of  Opuntia  pyriformis 168 

Joint  of  Opuntia  durangensis 169 

Plant   of  Opuntia   macdougaliana 170 

Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  macdougaliana.  ...  l"'l 

Joint  of  Opuntia  wilcoxii 172 

Plant   of  Opuntia  tomentosa 173 

Joint  of  Opuntia  tomentella 174 

Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  leucotricha 175 

Joints  of  Opuntia  orbiculata 176 

Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  pilifera 177 

Plants  of  Opuntia  ficus-indica 178 

Fruit  of  Opuntia  ficus-indica 178 

Plant  of  Opuntia  crassa 179 

Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  maxima 180 

Joint  of  Opuntia  spinulifera 182 

Joint  of  Opuntia  iasiacantha 183 

Joint  of  Opuntia  zacuapanensis 183 

Joint  of  Opuntia  hyptiacantha 183 

Joint  of  Opuntia  streptacantha 184 

Putted   pl.int  nt  Opuntia   megacantha 185 

I'l.iiu-  .,(   Opunii.i   iiK-.u.K-antha 186 

Ji.int   .it    Opuiui.i    nit.y.u.intha 186 

Joint   of  Opuntia  dcamii 187 

Joint  of  Opuntia  eichlamii 188 

Joint  of  Opuntia   inaequilateralis 188 

joint  of  Opuntia  pittieri 189 

Joiiu   of   Opuntia  cordobensis 189 

Fruit    ot    Opuntia   cordobensis 189 

Joiiu    ,.|    Opuniia   quimilo 190 

Fruit   ot    Opuntia   quimilo 190 

Joint  and  flowers  of  Opuntia  quimilo 191 

Plant  of  Opuntia  robusta 192 

Plant  of  Opuntia  fragilis 194 

Joints  of  Opuntia  arenaria 195 

Joint  of  Opuntia   trichophora 195 

Plant  of  Opuntia  erinacea 196 

Joint  of  Opuntia  juniperina 197 

Seed  of  Opuntia  juniperina 197 

Joint  of  Opuntia  hystricina 197 

Joint  of  Opuntia  sphaerocarpa 198 

Joints  of  Opuntia   polyacantha 199 

Joint  of  Opuntia  stenopeiala 200 

Upper  part  of  joint  and  flower  of  Opuntia 

stenopetala 201 


THH  CACTACHAE. 


TEXT-FIGURES— continued. 


Fig.  250.  Plants  of  Opuntia  palmadora 202 

251.  Joints  of  Opuntia   palmadora 202 

252.  Plants  of  Opuntia  nashii 202 

253.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  nashii 203 

254.  Joint  of  Opuntia  bahamana 20-i 

255.  Flower  of  Opuntia  bahamana 201 

256.  Plants  of  Opuntia  macracanth.i  201 

257.  Potted  plant  of  Opiiiui.i  iiiacrac.iruh.i  ,  205 

258.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  spiridsisMni.i  211". 

259.  Plants  of  Opuntia  niillspau.ului  206 

260.  Plant  of  Opuntia  moniliformis 206 

261.  Plant  of  Opuntia  moniliformis 207 

262.  Plant  of  Opuntia  moniliformis 207 

26.3.  Plants  of  Opuntia   riibescens  208 

264.  Plants  of  Opuntia   rubcsans  208 

265.  Proliferous  fruits  ot  Opuntia  riihcscens 209 

266.  Joint  of  Opuntia   rubtSLins  209 

267.  Fruit  of  Opuntia  brasiliensis    209 

268.  Plant  of  Opuntia  brasiliensis 210 

269.  Branch  of  Opuntia  bahiensis 210 

270.  Joint  and  fruit  of  Opuntia  bahiensis  210 

271.  Plant  of  Opuntia  b.ihit-nMs  211 

272.  Plant  of  Opentia  aniniophila  211 

273.  Fruiting  joint  of  Opuntia  amniophila  .211 

274.  Flower  of  Opuntia   argentina 212 

275.  Potted  plant  of  Opuntia  chaffeyi 212 

276.  Plant  of  Opuntia  chaffevi 213 


HAGE 

Fig.  277.  Small  joint  of  Nopalea  gaumeri 216 

278.  Elongated  joint  of  Nopalea  gaumeri 216 

279.  Plant  of  Opuntia  depauperata 216 

280.  Joint  t)f  Opuntia  depauperata 217 

281.  Plant  of  Opuntia   pestifer 217 

282.  Plant  of  Opuntia  discolor 218 

28r  Joints  of  Opuntia  pestifer 218 

28  1.  Joint  of  ( )puntia  discolor 218 

285.  Joint   of  Opuntia  guatemalensis 219 

286.  Joint   of  Opuntia  pennellii 219 

287.  Joints  of  Opuntia  caracasana 219 

288.  Plant  of  Opuntia  aequatorialis 220 

289.  Joints  of  Opuntia  aequatorialis 220 

290.  Joints  of  Opuntia  lata 220 

291.  Fruits  of  Opuntia  lata 220 

292.  Joint  with  flower  of  Opuntia  macaieei 220 

293.  Joint  of  Opuntia  macateei 220 

294.  Plants  of  Opuntia  soederstromiana    221 

295.  Plants  of  Opuntia  zebrina 222 

296.  Fruit  of  Opuntia  zebrina 222 

297.  Plants  of  Opuntia  keyensis 223 

298.  Section  of  flower  nf  Opunii.i  keyensis 223 

299.  Flower  of  Opuntia   kcvcnsis      223 

300.  Joint  of  Opuntia  honplandii    224 

301.  Plant  of  Opuntia  dobbieana 224 

302.  Plant  of  Opuntia  dobbieana  (without 

legend) 225 


THE  CACTACEAE 

Descriptions  and  Illustrations  of  Plants 
of  the  Cactus  Family 


THE  CACTACEAE 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  writers  began  held,  greenhouse,  and  herbarium  studies  of  the  Cactaceae  in 
1904  and  in  the  years  following  they  made  studies  and  collections  over  wide  areas 
in  the  United  States,  Mexico,  and  the  West  Indies.  It  was  first  intended  that 
these  should  be  followed  by  a  general  description  of  the  North  American  species 
only,  but  a  plan  for  a  more  complete  investigation  of  the  family  was  proposed  by 
Dr.  D.  T.  MacDougal  in  January  191  i-  This  v/as  approved  by  the  trustees  of  the 
Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington  at  its  next  regular  meeting  and  a  grant  was  made 
to  cover  the  expenses  of  such  an  investigation.  Dr.  Rose  was  given  temporary 
leave  of  absence  from  his  position  as  Associate  Curator  in  charge  of  the  Division  of 
Plants,  United  States  National  Museum,  and  became  a  Research  Associate  in  the 
Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington,  with  William  R.  Fitch  and  Paul  G.  Russell  as 
assistants;  Dr.  Britton,  Director-in-Chief  of  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden,  was 
appointed  an  honorary  Research  Associate,  while  R.  S.  Williams,  of  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden,  was  detailed  to  select  and  preserve  the  specimens  for  illustration. 
Work  under  this  new  arrangement  was  begun  January  15,  1912,  and  thus  several 
lines  of  investigation  were  undertaken  in  a  comprehensive  way. 

1.  Reexamination  of  type  specimens  and  of  all  original  descriptions:  This  was 
necessary  because  descriptions  had  been  incorrectly  interpreted,  plants  had  been 
wrongly  identified,  and  the  errors  perpetuated;  thus  the  published  geographical 
distribution  of  many  species  was  faulty  and  conclusions  based  on  such  data  M'ere  un- 
reliable. Not  only  had  specific  names  been  transferred  to  plants  to  which  they  did 
not  belong,  but  generic  names  were  interchanged  and  the  laws  of  priority  ignored. 
Many  valid  species,  too,  had  dropped  out  of  collections  and  out  of  current  literature 
and  had  to  be  restored. 

2.  Assembling  of  large  collections  for  greenhouse  and  herbarium  use:  Extensive 
greenhouse  facilities  were  furnished  by  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  and  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  while  the  herbaria  and  libraries  of  the 
United  States  National  Museum  and  of  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  furnished 
the  bases  for  the  researches.  The  New  York  Botanical  Garden  has  also  cooperated 
in  contributing  funds  in  aid  of  the  field  operations,  in  clerical  work,  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  illustrations  used  have  been  made  there,  the  paintings  and  line  drawings 
mostly  by  Miss  Mary  E.  Eaton. 

3.  Extensive  field  operations  in  the  arid  parts  of  both  Americas:  Many  of  these 
deserts  are  almost  inaccessible,  while  the  plants  are  bulky  and  if  not  handled  care- 
fully are  easily  destroyed.  Many  plants  require  several  years  to  mature,  in  some  cases 
many  years  to  flower  in  cultivation.  Through  these  explorations  were  obtained  the 
living  material  for  the  greenhouse  collections  and  for  exchange  purposes,  as  well  as 
herbarium  material  for  permanent  preservation.  Of  much  importance,  also,  were 
field  observations  upon  the  plants  as  individuals,  their  form,  habit,  habitat,  and 
their  relations  to  other  species. 

3 


D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 
North  Carolina  State  College 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


Early  in  1912  Dr.  Rose  went  to  Europe  to  study  the  collections  there  and  to 
arrange  for  exchanges  with  various  botanical  institutions  having  collections  of  these 
plants.  He  spent  considerable  time  at  London,  mainly  at  the  Royal  Botanic 
Gardens,  Kew,  where  through  the  courtesy  of  the  Director,  Sir  David  Prain,  he  was 
able  to  examine  the  greenhouse,  illustrative,  and  herbarium  material  for  which  this 
institution  has  long  been  famed.  The  collection  at  the  British  Museum  of  Natural 
History  and  that  of  the  Linnaean  Society  of  London  were  examined.  At  Paris  he 
studied  the  collections  at  the  Natural  History  Museum,  many  of  which  have  historic 
interest;  one  of  his  interesting  discoveries  there  was  that  the  Pereskia  bleo,  collected 
by  Baron  Friedrich  Alexander  von  Humboldt  in  Colombia,  is  a  very  different  species 
from  the  plant  which  for  nearly  a  century  has  been  passing  in  our  collections  and 
literature  under  that  name.  He  also  visited  the  famous  botanical  garden  of  the 
late  Sir  Thomas  Hanbury,  at  La  Mortola,  Italy,  and  through  the  courtesy  of  Lady 
Hanbury  was  given  every  possible  facility  for  the  study  of  this  collection;  Mr. 
Alwin  Berger,  who  was  then  curator  in  charge,  had  brought  together  one  of  the  most 
extensive  representations  of  this  family  to  be  found  growing  in  the  open  in  any 
place  in  the  world.  Here  in  the  delightful  climate  of  the  Riviera  were  grown  many 
species  which  were  apparently  just  as  much  at  home  as  they  would  have  been  in 
their  desert  habitats.  Dr.  Rose  also  visited  Rome,  Naples,  Venice,  and  Florence, 
where  he  saw  smaller  collections  in  parks  and  private  gardens.  At  Munich  he 
examined  certain  types  in  the  Royal  Botanical  Museum,  then  under  the  charge  of 
Dr.  L.  Radlkofer,  and  saw  some  interesting  species  in  the  Royal  Botanical  Garden 
then  being  organized  by  Dr.  K.  Goebel.  At  Berlin  he  examined  the  herbarium  and 
living  specimens  in  the  Berlin  Botanical  Garden,  through  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  A. 
Engler,  and  the  West  Indian  collection  through  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  I.  Urban.  He 
then  went  to  Halle  and  saw  L.  Quehl's  collection  of  mammiUarias;  to  Erfurt,  where 
he  saw  the  Haage  and  Schmidt,  and  Haage  Jr.  collections;  to  Darmstadt  to  see  the 
Botanical  Garden  under  Dr.  J.  A.  Purpus;  and  to  Antwerp  to  see  DeLaet's  private 
collection. 

In  1913  Dr.  Britton  and  Dr.  Rose  visited  the  West  Indies.  Dr.  Britton,  who 
was  accompanied  by  Mrs.  E.  G.  Britton,  Miss  D.  W.  Marble,  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Shafer, 
collected  on  St.  Thomas  and  the  other  Virgin  Islands,  Porto  Rico,  and  Curacao. 
At  the  latter  island  he  rediscovered  the  very  rare  Cactus  mammillaris,  which  had  not 
been  in  cultivation  for  many  years.  Dr.  Rose,  who  was  accompanied  by  William 
R.  Fitch  and  Paul  G.  Russell,  also  stopped  at  St.  Thomas,  and  collected  on  St. 
Croix,  St.  Christopher,  Antigua,  and  Santo  Domingo. 

In  1914  and  1915  Dr.  Britton  again  visited  Porto  Rico  and,  assisted  by  Mr. 
John  F.  Cowell  and  Mr.  Stewardson  Brown,  explored  the  entire  southwestern  arid 
coast  and  the  small  islands  Desecheo,  Mona,  and  Muertos. 

In  1914  Dr.  Rose  went  to  the  west  coast  of  South  America,  making  short  stops 
at  Jamaica  and  Panama.  He  made  extensive  collections  in  central  and  southern 
Peru,  central  Bolivia,  and  northern  and  central  Chile.  At  Santiago,  Chile,  he 
examined  a  number  of  Philippi's  types  in  the  National  Museum  and  obtained 
some  rare  specimens  from  the  Botanical  Garden  through  the  courtesy  of  Johannes 
Sohrens. 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

In  1915  Dr.  Rose,  acompanied  by  Paul  G.  Russell,  visited  Brazil  and  Argentina 
on  the  east  coast  of  South  America,  collecting  extensively  in  the  semiarid  parts  of 
Bahia,  Brazil,  and  in  the  region  about  Rio  de  Janeiro,  so  rich  in  epiphytic  cacti. 
In  the  deserts  about  Mendoza  and  Cordoba,  in  Argentina,  collections  were  also 
made.  Here  he  also  arranged  for  exchanges  with  the  leading  botanists  and  collec- 
tors. The  following  persons  have  made  valuable  contributions  from  the  regions 
visited:  Dr.  Leo  Zehntner,  Joazeiro,  Brazil;  Dr.  Alberto  Lofgren,  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
Brazil;  Dr.  Carlos  Spegazzini,  La  Plata,  Argentina;  Dr.  Cristobal  M.  Hicken, 
Buenos  Aires,  Argentina;  and  Dr.  Carlos  S.  Reed,  Mendoza,  Argentina. 

In  October  and  November  1916,  Dr.  Rose,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Rose,  visited 
Curacao  and  Venezuela,  studying  especially  the  cactus  deserts  about  La  Guaira 
and  Puerto  Cabello.    A  number  of  photographs  were  taken  by  Mrs.  Rose. 

While  en  route  for  Venezuela,  arrangements  were  made  with  Mr.  Harold  G. 
Foss  to  make  a  collection  of  cacti  at  Coro,  Venezuela.  Among  the  specimens 
obtained  were  species  not  found  farther  east  in  Venezuela,  so  far  as  known. 

In  1916  Dr.  Britton,  assisted  by  Mr.  Percy  Wilson,  studied  the  cacti  of  Havana 
and  Matanzas  Provinces  and  those  of  the  Isle  of  Pines,  Cuba. 

In  191 8  Dr.  Rose,  assisted  by  George  Rose,  visited  Ecuador  on  behalf  of  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  aided  by  the  Gray  Herbarium  of  Har- 
vard University  and  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden;  about  thirty  rare  or  little- 
known  species  were  obtained. 

Through  the  expenditure  of  about  $2,400,  contributed  by  Dr.  Britton,  a  very 
important  colleaion  of  cacti  was  made  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Shafer  during  a  six  months' 
exploration  from  November  I9I6  to  April  1917  of  the  desert  regions  of  northwestern 
Argentina,  southeastern  Bolivia,  northeastern  Argentina,  and  adjacent  Uruguay 
and  Paraguay.  Fortunately,  for  the  purposes  of  this  work,  this  colleaion  was 
brought  back  to  New  York  by  Dr.  Shafer  in  time  for  the  information  yielded  by 
it  and  by  his  field  observations  to  be  used  in  the  manuscript.  It  has  given  us 
first-hand  information  concerning  over  120  species  of  cacti  as  to  which  we  have 
previously  known  little. 

There  are  still  a  few  cactus  regions  which  ought  to  be  explored,  but  the  follow- 
ing summary  will  show  the  wide  field  from  which  we  have  obtained  information. 

Our  field  investigations  have  covered  praaically  all  the  cactus  deserts  of 
Mexico.  The  most  important  of  these  are  the  vicinities  of  Tehuacan  and  Tomellin, 
the  plains  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  the  chalky  hills  surrounding  Ixmiquilpan,  the  lava 
fields  in  the  Valley  of  Mexico  and  above  Cuernavaca,  the  deserts  of  Queretaro,  the 
west  coast  of  Mexico  extending  from  the  United  States  border  to  Acaponeta,  and 
the  seacoast  and  islands  of  Lower  California,  other  regions  in  Mexico  containing 
cacti,  but  not  in  such  great  abundance  as  the  foregoing,  are  those  about  Pachuca, 
Oaxaca  City,  Mitla,  Jalapa,  Iguala,  Chihuahua  City,  and  Guadalajara.  All  the 
work  in  Mexico,  however,  was  done  prior  to  1912,  for,  owing  to  political  disturb- 
ances, no  field  work  there  has  been  feasible  since  that  time. 

In  the  United  States  our  work  has  extended  over  the  cactus  regions  of  Florida, 
Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  southern  California,  western  Kansas,  and  southeast- 
ern Colorado. 


6  THE   CACTACEAE. 

In  the  West  Indies  we  have  explored  all  of  the  Greater  Antilles,  the  Bahamas, 
the  Virgin  Islands,  St.  Christopher,  Antigua,  Barbados,  and  Curacao. 

In  South  America  our  field  study  included  the  most  important  deserts  of  Peru, 
Bolivia,  and  Chile,  and  parts  of  Brazil,  Venezuela,  Ecuador,  and  Argentina.  The 
caaus  deserts  of  South  America  are  so  extensive  and  so  remote  from  one  another 
that  it  was  possible  to  visit  only  a  part  of  them  in  the  four  seasons  allowed  for 
their  exploration. 

Among  many  enthusiastic  volunteers  whose  contributions  of  specimens  and 
data  have  greatly  supplemented  our  own  collections  and  held  studies,  the  following 
deserve  especial  mention: 

Mr.  Henry  Pittier  has  made  valuable  sendings  from  Colombia,  Venezuela, 
Panama,  Costa  Rica,  and  Mexico;  Mr.  O.  F.  Cook,  from  Guatemala  and  Peru; 
Mr.  G.  N.  Collins,  the  late  Federico  Eichlam,  Mr.  R.  H.  Peters,  Mr.  C.  C.  Deam, 
Mrs.  T.  D.  A.  Cockerell,  Baron  H.  von  Turckheim,  and  the  late  Professor  W.  A. 
Kellerman  have  sent  important  collections  from  Guatemala;  Mr.  A.  Tonduz, 
Mr.  Oton  Jimenez,  Dr.  A.  Alfaro,  Mr.  C.  Werckle,  and  Mr.  Alfred  Brade,  local 
colleaors  and  naturalists  in  Costa  Rica,  have  sent  much  good  material  from  their 
country;  Mr.  William  R.  Maxon  has  sent  new  and  rare  material  from  Costa  Rica, 
Guatemala,  and  Cuba;  Professor  C.  Conzatti  and  his  son.  Professor  Hugo  Conzatti, 
Dr.  C.  A.  Purpus,  Dr.  Elswood  Chaffey,  Mrs.  Irene  Vera,  M.  Albert  de  Lautreppe, 
and  the  late  Mr.  E.  A.  H.  Tays  have  sent  us  many  interesting  specimens  from 
Mexico;  Mr.  W.  E.  Safford  made  a  valuable  collection  in  Mexico  in  1907;  E.  W.  Nelson 
and  E.  A.  Goldman,  who  have  collected  so  extensively  in  Mexico  and  the  Southwest, 
have  obtained  many  herbarium  and  living  specimens  for  our  use;  Mrs.  Gaillard. 
who  lived  at  Panama  several  years  while  the  late  Colonel  D.  D.  Gaillard  was  a 
member  of  the  Isthmian  Canal  Commission,  collected  interesting  cacti,  including 
Epiphylluni  gaillard ae;  the  late  Dr.  H.  E.  Hasse  sent  specimens  from  southern 
California  and  Arizona;  C.  R.  Orcutt,  the  well-known  cactus  fancier,  has  aided 
us  in  many  ways  besides  sending  us  specimens  from  his  collections;  Dr.  R.  E.  Kunze 
has  frequently  sent  specimens,  especially  from  Arizona;  General  Timothy  E.  Wilcox, 
for  whom  Wilcoxia  was  named,  has  sent  us  specimens  from  the  Southwest,  while 
his  son.  Dr.  G.  B.  Wilcox,  contributed  several  sendings  from  the  west  coast  of 
Mexico  and  Guatemala;  Dr.  D.  T.  MacDougal  has  sent  many  specimens  from  all 
over  the  Southwest,  especially  from  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  southern  California; 
he  has  made  several  excursions  into  remote  deserts,  which  have  yielded  interesting 
results,  and  has  contributed  many  excellent  photographs,  quite  a  number  of  which 
are  reproduced  in  this  report  (Plate  i,  etc.).  Professor  F.  E.  Lloyd,  while  located 
in  Arizona  and  in  Zacatecas,  Mexico,  made  large  collections  of  living,  herbarium, 
and  formalin  material,  often  accompanied  by  valuable  field  notes,  sketches,  and 
photographs.  Dr.  Forrest  Shreve  has  sent  specimens,  especially  from  northern 
Arizona  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Long  from  New  Mexico;  Mr.  S.  B.  Parish  and  Mr.  W.  T. 
Schaller  have  furnished  interesting  specimens  and  valuable  notes  on  southern  Cali- 
fornia species;  Professor  J.  J.  Thornber  has  made  valuable  contributions  of  material 
and    notes    from    Arizona;    Mr.    M.    E.    Jones,  Mr.  I.  Tidestrom,  Mr.  Thomas  H. 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

Kearney,  and  Professor  A.  O.  Garrett  have  all  sent  specimens  from  Utah;  Profes- 
sor T.  D.  A.  Cockerell  and  Mr.  Merritt  Gary  have  sent  specimens  from  Golorado; 
Dr.  P.  A.  Rydberg  has  brought  many  specimens  from  the  Rocky  Mountain  region; 
Messrs.  Paul  G.  Standley,  E.  O.  Wooton,  Vernon  Bailey,  and  H.  L.  Shantz  have 
sent  specimens  from  the  southwestern  United  States;  Brother  Leon,  of  the  Golegio 
de  la  Salle,  Havana,  and  Dr.  Juan  T.  Roig,  of  the  Estacion  Agronomica,  Santiago 
de  las  Vegas,  Guba,  have  contributed  Guban  specimens,  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Shafer  has 
collected  widely  in  Guba;  Mr.  William  Harris,  of  Hope  Gardens,  Jamaica,  has  col- 
lected for  us  in  Jamaica;  Dr.  John  K.  Small  has  obtained  collections  from  nearly 
all  over  the  southeastern  United  States,  aided  by  Mr.  Gharles  Deering.  Dr.  Henry 
H.  Rusby  and  Dr.  Francis  W.  Pennell  have  contributed  plants  and  specimens  from 
Golombia,  colleaed  in  1917  and  1918.  Mr.  Frederick  V.  Goville,  of  the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture,  has  made  many  valuable  suggestions  during  the 
progress  of  the  investigation. 

In  our  studies  we  have  also  had  use  of  the  cacti  of  the  following  American 
collections:  Herbarium  of  the  Missouri  Botanical  Garden  at  St.  Louis;  the  Gray 
Herbarium  of  Harvard  University;  the  Rocky  Mountain  Herbarium  at  Laramie, 
Wyoming;  the  coUeaion  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture;  the 
herbarium  of  the  University  of  Galifornia,  especially  the  Brandegee  collection;  and 
the  herbarium  of  the  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

The  types  of  the  new  species  described  in  this  work  are  deposited  in  the  herbaria 
of  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  and  the  United  States  National  Museum,  unless 
otherwise  indicated. 

In  greenhouse  collections  many  kinds  of  cacti  grow  very  slowly,  and  flower 
only  after  many  years'  cultivation.  We  have  a  number  of  plants  of  this  kind 
from  various  parts  of  America.  It  is  hoped  that  some  of  them  may  bloom  during 
the  period  of  publication  of  this  book  and  thus  enable  us  to  include  them  in  an 
appendix. 


8  THE   CACTACEAE. 

Order  CACTALES. 

Perennial,  succulent  planes,  various  in  habit,  mostly  very  spiny,  characterized  by  specialized 
organs  termed  areoles.  Leaves  usually  none,  except  in  Pereskia  and  Peresk.'opsis,  where  they  are 
large  and  flat  but  fleshy,  and  in  Optnitia  and  its  relatives,  where  they  are  usually  much  reduced 
and  mostly  caducous,  terete,  or  subulate.  Spines  very  various  in  size,  form,  arrangement,  and 
color,  sometimes  with  definite  sheaths.  The  areoles  are  peculiar  and  complex  organs,  situated  in 
the  axils  of  leaves  when  leaves  are  present,  and  bearing  the  branches,  flowers,  spines,  glochids,  hairs, 
or  glands;  in  some  genera  two  kinds  of  areoles  occur,  either  distinct  or  united  by  a  groove.  Flowers 
usually  perfect,  either  regular  or  irregular,  usually  solitary  but  sometimes  clustered,  sometimes 
borne  in  a  specialized  terminal  dense  inflorescence  called  a  cephalium;  perianth-tube  none,  or  large 
and  long,  the  limb  spreading  or  erect,  short  or  elongated,  the  lobes  few  or  numerous,  often  inter- 
grading  in  shape  and  color,  but  sometimes  sharply  differentiated  into  sepals  and  petals ;  stamens 
commonly  numerous,  elongated  or  short,  sometimes  clustered  in  series,  the  filaments  usually  borne  on 
the  throat  of  the  perianth,  the  small  oblong  anthers  2-celled;  style  one,  terminal,  short  or  elongated; 
stigma-lobes  2  to  many,  usually  slender;  ovary  1-celled,  distinct,  or  immersed  in  a  branch  or 
forming  a  part  of  a  branch;  ovules  numerous.  Fruit  a  berry,  often  juicy  and  sometimes  edible, 
sometimes  dry,  in  one  species  described  as  capsular  and  dehiscing  by  an  operculum,  in  others  opening 
by  a  basal  pore.  Seeds  various;  cotyledons  two,  accumbent,  sometimes  minute  knobs,  often  broad 
or  elongated;   endospern   little  or  copious;   radicle  terete. 

The  order  consists  of  the  following  family  only: 

Family  CACTACEAE  Lindley,  Nat.  Syst.  ed.  2.53.     1836. 

Characters  of  the  order  as  given  above.    The  family  is  composed  of  three  tribes. 

Key  to  Tribes. 


Leaves  broad,  flat;  glochids  wanting;   flowers  stalked    (sometimes  short  stalked),  often  clustered 1.  Peieskieae 

Leaves   (except  in  Pereskiopsis)   terete  or  subterete,  usually  small,  often  wanting  on  the  vegetative  parts; 
flowers  sessile. 
Areoles  with  glochids  (except  in  Maihuenia)  ;  vegetative   parts    bearing    leaves,    which    are    usually 

small  and  fugacious;   flowers  rotate   (petals   erect  in  Nopalea) 2.  Opnntteae 

Areoles  without  glochids;  usually  no  leaves  on  the  vegetative   parts    (except   cotyledonary)  ;   flowers 

with  definite  tubes    (except  Rhipudis) 3.  Cereeae 

Tribe    1.  PERESKIEAE. 

Stems  and  foliage  as  in  other  dicotyledonous  plants;  inflorescence  in  some  species  compound; 
flowers  more  or  less  stalked,  their  parts  all  distinct;  glochids  wanting;  ovule  with  short  funicle; 
testa  of  seed  thin,  brittle. 

The  genus  Pereskia,  the  only  representative  of  this  tribe,  is,  on  account  of  its  similarity 
to  other  woody  flowering  plants,  considered  the  nearest  cactus  relative  to  the  other  families, 
but  this  relationship  is  in  all  cases  remote. 

The  nearest  generic  relatives  of  Pereskia  in  the  cactus  family  are  doubtless  the  ft)lk)wing: 

Pereskiopsis,  some  of  whose  species  were  first  assigned  to  the  genus  Pereskia.  but  they 
have  dilferent  foliage  and  the  areoles  often  bear  glochids. 

Opuntia,  whose  species  have  leaves,  though  much  reduced  and  usually  cadticous,  other- 
wise very  different;  but  some  of  the  species  d.  Opuntia  were  first  referred  to  Pereskia. 

Maihuenia  (two  of  whose  species  have  only  recently  been  taken  out  of  Pereskia).  whose 
seeds  are  similar  but  the  areoles  lack  glochids,  otherwise  very  different. 

This  tribe  has  a  wide  geographic  distribution,  but  is  found  wild  only  in  the  tropics. 

1.  PERESKIA  (Plumier)  Miller,  Card.  Diet.  Abr.  ed.  4.     1754. 

Leafy  trees,  shrubs,  or  sometimes  clambering  vines,  branching  and  resembling  other  woody 
plants ;  spines  in  pairs  or  in  clusters  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  neither  sheathed  nor  barbed ;  glochids 
(found  only  in  the  Opuntieae)  wanting;  leaves  alternate,  broad,  flat,  deciduous,  or  somewhat  fleshy; 
flowers  solitary,  corymbose,  or  in  panicles,  terminal  or  axillary,  wheel-shaped;  stamens  numerous; 
style  single;  stigma-lobes  linear;  seeds  black,  glossy,  with  a  brittle  shell,  the  embtyo  strongly  curved; 
the  cotyledons  leafy;  seedlings  without  spines. 


Type  species:    Cactus  pereskia  Linnaeus. 

In  1898  about  25  names  had  been  proposed  in  Peresk'hi.  but,  in  his  monograph  pubUshed 
that  year,  Karl  Schumann  accepted  only  11  species.  Several  new  ones  have  been  proposed 
since  the  publication  of  Schumann's  monograph. 

The  species  are  native  in  Mexico,  the  West  Indies,  Central  America,  and  South 
America.  Some  of  the  species  are  much  used  as  stocks  for  growing  the  various  forms  of 
Zygocactus,  Epiphyllmn,  and  other  cacti  requiring  this  treatment;  P.  pereskia  is  most  used 
and  P.  grandijolia  next.  Several  species  are  widely  cultivated  as  ornamentals  in  tropical 
regions;  they  do  not  flower  freely  under  glass  in  northern  latitudes.  All  species  studied  by 
us  in  the  living  state  grow  readily  from  cuttings. 

The  typical  species  seems  to  have  been  first  introduced  into  Europe  from  the  West  Indies 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century.  A  straight-spined  species  was  first  described  and 
figured  by  L.  Plukenet  in  1696,  who  called  it  a  portulaca,  and  the  next  year  by  Commerson 
as  an  apple  (Mains).  In  1703  C.  Plumier  described  the  genus  Pereskia,  basing  it  upon  a 
single  species.  The  genus  was  repeatedly  recognized  by  Linnaeus  in  his  earlier  publications, 
and  by  some  pre-Linnaean  botanists,  but  in  1753  Linnaeus  merged  it  into  Cactus  along  with 
a  number  of  other  old  and  well-established  genera;  but  it  was  retained  by  Philip  Miller  in 
1754  in  the  fourth  edition  (abridged)  of  his  Gardeners'  Dictionary  and  has  since  been 
generally  recognized  as  a  genus  by  botanical   and  horticultural  authors. 

The  name  is  variously  spelled  Peirescia.  Peireskia.  Perescia.  and  Pereskia. 

Named  for  Nicholas  Claude  Fabry  de  Peiresc  (1580-1637). 

Key  to  Species. 

Climbing  vines,  the  twigs  with  a  short  pair  of  reflexed  spines  from  each  areole,  the  stem  with 

acicular  spines   (Series  1.  Typicae) 1.   P.  pereskia 

Shrub  or  trees  with  slender  straight  spines  (Series  2.  Grandifoliae). 
Petals  toothed  or  fimbriate. 

Petals    somewhat    toothed 2.  P.  aiitiimnalis 

Petals  fimbriate. 

Species  from  Mexico;   ovary   turbinate 3.  P.  lychnidiflora 

Species  from   Costa  Rica ;   ovary   pyriform 4.  P.  mcoyana 

Petals  entire,  at  least  not  fimbriate. 

Branches  and   leaves   very   easily   detached 5.  P.  zehntiteri 

Branches   and   leaves  not  easily  detached. 

Axils  of  sepals  bearing  long  hairs  and  bristles. 

Leaves  lanceolate 6.  P.  sacharosa 

Leaves  orbicular 7.  P.  moorei 

Axils  of  sepals  not  bearing  long  hair  and  bristles. 

Flowers  white 8.  P.  u-eberiana 

Flowers  not  white. 
Petals  yellow. 

Leaves  lanceolate  to  oblong  or  obovate 9.  P.  guamacho 

Leaves  orbicular  or  broadly  ovate 10.  P.  colomhian.! 

Petals  red  or  purple. 

Spines  few  or  none 11.  P.  tampicw.i 

Very  spiny,  at  least  on  old  brandies. 
Flowers  terminal. 
Flowers  panicled. 

Fruit  naked,  broadly  truncate ' 12.  P.  Iileo 

Fruit  leaf-bearing,  not  truncate. 

Leaves  of  ovary  cuneate  at  base 13.  P.  bahiensis 

Leaves  of  ovary  broad  at  base 14.   P.  grandijolia 

Flowers  solitary 15.  P.  ziiiiihiefloni 

Flowers  usually  axillaiy  and  solitary. 

Leaves  1  cm.  long  or  longer,  obtuse  or  acute. 

Flowers  2  to  5  together.  1  cm.  long;  South  American  species.  .        16.   P.  honida 
Flowers   solitary,    1.5   cm.   long;   petals   elliptic-obovate;   Cuban 

species \1.  P.  ciibensh 

Leaves  emarginate,  1  cm.  long  or  less,  petals  obovate 18.  P.  portHlacijolia 

Affinity  unknown 19.  p.  conzattii 


10  THE   CACTACEAE. 

Series  1.  TYPICAE. 
Consists   of  only   the   typical   species,   which   is  widely  distributed,  and  much  cultivated  throughout 
tropical  America.    Schumann  regarded  it  as  a  subgenus  under  the  name  Eupereskia. 

1.  Pereskia  pereskia  (Linnaeus)   Karsten,  Deutsch.  Flora  888.     1882. 

Cjc/us  pereskni  Linnaeus,  Sp.  PI.  469.      1753. 

Pereskia  aculeaU  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.     1768. 

Cactus  lucidus  Salisbury,  Prodr.  349.     1796. 

Pereskia  lottgispina  Haworth,  Syn.  PI.  Succ.  178.      1812. 

Pcresti.i  .u-/,!c.:!.i  Inn^itpina  De  CandoUe,  Prodr.  3:475.      1828. 

Pen  l-    •'  ,       .'.     lu.i.ure,  Hort.  Univ.  2:40.      1841. 

Petci  j     ii.i.re,   Illustr.  Hort.  5:  Misc.  11.      1858. 

Pert'.  -;:,;...'/. ni  in  Weingart,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  14:13-1.      1904. 

Pen^i:-^  .       .'.  .   S.inder,  Gard.  Chron.   111.   43:257.      1908. 

Shrub,  at  first  erect,  but  the  branches  often  long,  clambering,  and  forming  vines  3  to  10  meters  long; 
spines  on  lower  part  of  stem  solitary  or  2  or  3  together,  slender  and  straight;  spines  in  the  axils  of 
the  leaves  paired,  rarely  in  threes,  short,  recurved;  leaves  short-petioled,  lanceolate  to  oblong,  or  ovate, 
short-acuminate  at  the  apex,  tapering  or  rounded  at  base,  7  cm.  long  or  less;  flowers  in  panicles  or 
corymbs,  white,  pale  yellow,  or  pinkish,  2.5  to  4.5  cm.  broad;  ovary  leafy  and  often  spiny;  fruit  light 
yellow,  1.5  to  2  cm.  in  diameter,  when  mature  quite  smooth;  seeds  black,  somewhat  flattened,  4  to 
5  mm.   in  diameter;  hilum  basal,  circular,   depressed,  or  crater-shaped. 

The  plant  and  fruit  have  several  common  names,  one  of  which,  blade  apple,  was  in  use 
as  early  as  1697.  Lemon  vine,  Barbados  gooseberry,  and  West  Indian  gooseberry  are  three 
others,  with  various  French  and  Dutch  modifications.  In  Argentina  it  is  called  sacharosa, 
according  to  Sir  Joseph  Hooker  (Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  116:  pi.  7147),  but  this  name  is  prop- 
erly applied  only  to  the  P.  sacharosd  of  Grisebach,  native  of  Argentina,  a  distinct  species, 
which  Hooker  thought  identical  with  this. 

The  berries  are  eaten  throughout  the  West  Indies  and  the  leaves  are  used  as  a  pot  herb 
in  Brazil.  The  species  was  in  cultivation  in  the  Royal  Gardens  of  Hampton  Court  in  1696 
and  has  been  at  Kew  ever  since  its  establishment  in  1760,  but  did  not  flower  until  1889. 
In  Washington  we  have  one  plant  among  a  dozen  which  flowers  abundantly  each  year; 
three  plants  at  New  York  bloom  annually. 

In  tropical  America  the  plant  climbs  over  walls,  rocks,  and  trees,  and  at  flowering  time 
is  covered  with  showy,  fragrant  blossoms,  followed  by  beautiful  clusters  of  yellow  berries. 
In  La  Plata  it  is  grown  sometimes  for  hedges  (see  fig.  1),  but  its  strong,  almost  offensive 
odor  makes  it  objectionable  for  growing  near  habitations. 

Type  locality:  Tropical  America. 

Distribution:  West  Indies  and  along  the  east  and  north  coasts  of  South  America;  found 
also  in  Florida  and  Mexico,  but  perhaps  only  as  an  escape;  widely  grown  for  its  fruit. 

This  species  consists  of  several  races,  differing  in  shape  and  size  of  the  leaves  and  in 
color  of  the  flowers.  One  of  these  races,  with  ovate-orbicular  leaves  rounded  at  the  base, 
had  heretofore  been  known  to  us  only  in  cultivation,  but  in  October  1916,  while  collecting 
in  Venezuela,  Dr.  Rose  found  this  broad-leafed  form  common  in  the  coastal  thickets  near 
Puerto  Cabello. 

Pereskia  lanceolata  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  513.  1846),  P.  <«■./;«'/./ Parmentier  (Pfeiffer, 
Enum.  Cact.  176.  1837),  and  P.  hrasilieusis  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  176.  1837),  usually 
referred  as  synonyms  of  P.  aciileata.  were  not  formally  published  in  the  places  above  cited. 

The  following  varieties,  based  on  the  shape  of  the  leaves,  are  recorded  under  P.  aculeata: 
lanceolata  Pfeiffer"  (Enum.  Cact.  176.  1837) ;  latijolia  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  202.  1834, 
name  only);  rot/oidifolia  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  176.  1837);  rotunda  (Suppl.  Diet.  Gard. 
Nicholson  589.    1901)   is  perhaps  the  same  as  rotundifolia. 

Pereskia  aculeata  ruhescens  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  176.  1837)  is  described  with  glaucous- 
green  leaves  above,  tinged  with  red  beneath. 

Near  the  last  belongs  Pereskia  godse^iana.  described  as  a  sport  in  the  Gardeners' 
Chronicle  in  1908.  It  is  a  very  attractive  greenhouse  plant,  often  forming  a  round, 
densely  branched  bush,  but  is  sometimes  grown  as  a  climber,  as  a  basket  plant,  or  in  the  form 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


1.     Flowering  branch  of  Pereskia  pereskia.  4.     Leafy  branch  of  Pereskia  sacharosa. 

2,  3.     Fruits  of  the  same.  5.     Proliferous  fruit  of  the  same. 

(All  2   3  natural  size.) 


of  a  pyramid.  It  is  especially  distinguished  by  tlie  rich  coloration  of  the  leaves,  which  are 
variously  mottled  or  blotched  above  with  crimson,  apricot-yellow,  and  green,  but  of  a  uni- 
form purplish  crimson  beneath.  We  have  seen  this  form  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden, 
where  it  is  grown  only  as  a  bush.  It  was  exhibited  first  at  Ghent,  Belgium,  in  1908,  and  is 
supposed  to  have  originated  in  Queensland,  Australia. 

Pereskid  longnpina  rubeicens  Pfeiffer  and  P.  longhp'ma  rotundi\olia  Salm-Dyck  were 
given  by  Walpers  (Repert.  Bot.  2:  283.  1843)  as  synonyms  of  P.  aculeata,  but  they  were  not 
described. 

lllustratiofis:  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  5:  pi.  87;  Bluhende  Kakteen  2:  pi.  86;  Bot.  Reg. 
23:  pi.  1928;  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  116:  pi.  7147;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  29:  f.  61;  Plumier,  Nov.  PI. 
Amer.  pi.  26,  in  part;  Safford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.   Inst.    1908:   f.    10;   Schumann,   Gesamtb. 


Kakteen  f.  109;  Garten-Zeitung  4:  182.  f.  42.  No.  5;  Gard.  Chron.  Ill,  20:  f.  108;  Stand  Cycl. 
Hort.  Bailey  2:  f.  7l4,  all  as  ?.  aculeata.  Descourtilz,  Fl.  Med.  Antill.  ed.  2.  4:  pi.  294,  as 
Cactier  a  Fruits  Feuilles;  Vellozo,  Fl.  Flum.  5:  pi.  26;  London,  Encycl.  PI.  ed.  3.413,  as  Cactus. 
pereskia:  Gard.  Chron.  III.  43:  f.  114;  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  23:  256.  f.  15,  as  P. 
godseffiaua. 

Plate  II,  figure  1,  of  this  volume  is  a  flowering  branch  of  a  plant  at  the  New  York  Bo- 
tanical Garden  obtained  from  M.  Simon,  of  St.  Ouen,  Paris,  France,  in  1901;  figure  2,  fruit 
of  same  plant;  figure  3,  fruit  of  another  plant.  Text-figure  1,  from  a  photograph  taken  by 
Paul  G.  Russell  at  La  Plata,  Argentina,  in  September  1915,  shows  the  plant  used  as  a  hedge. 

Series  2.   GRANDIFOI.IAE. 

In  this  series  we  include  IS  species,  all  tropical  American,  both  continent.il  and  insular.  Schumann, 
regarding  the  series  as  a  subgenus,  applied  to  it  the  name  Ahnplocarpiis. 

2.  Pereskia  autumnalis  (Eichlam)   Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:339.     1909. 
Pereskiopsis  mitiimnalU  Eiclilam.  Moii.itssclir.  K.ikteenk.   19:22.      1909. 


12 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Tree,  6  to  9  meters  high,  with  a  large,  round,  much  branched  top,  the  trunk  usually  very  definite 
and  40  cm.  or  more  in  diameter,  often  covered  with  a  formidable  array  of  spines;  young  branches 
cherry  brown,  smooth ;  spines  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  usually  solitary,  sometimes  in  threes,  long  and 
slender,  3  to  4  cm.,  rarely  16  cm.  long;  leaves  thickish,  oblong  to  orbicular,  4  to  8  cm.  long,  rounded 
or  somewhat  narrowed  at  base,  mucronately  tipped ;  flowers  solitary,  near  the  tops  of  the  branches, 
short-peduncled;  ovary  covered  with  leafy  scales;  flowers  4  to  5  cm.  broad;  petals  entire,  orange-colored; 
stamens  numerous;  fruit  globular,  4  to  5  cm.  in  diameter;  fleshy,  glabrous,  bearing  small,  scattered  leaves, 
these  naked  in  the  axils ;  seeds  black,  glossy,  4  mm.  long. 

Type  locality:  In  Guatemala. 

Distribution:  Widely  distributed  in  Guatemala,  usually  at  an  altitude  of  120  to  300 
meters;  also  common  in  Salvador  where  it  is  much  planted  for  hedges. 


Fig.  3.— Pereskia  autiimnalis.      Xo.V  Fir..  .l.--Pereski.i  lychnidiflor.i 

The  plant,  so  far  as  we  know,  has  no  common  name  and  no  use  is  made  of  its  fruit. 

llhistrations:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  pi.  52  to  54;  Safford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst. 
1908:  pi.  10,  f.  1;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  21:. 37,  and  25:  35,  the  last  two  as  Pereskiapsis  aiit- 
umnalis;  Engler  and  Drude,  Veg.  Erde  13:  f.  10,  as  Pereskia  guatanuileus/s. 

Text-figures,  2  and  3  are  copied  from  the  above-cited  illustrations.  The  original  photo- 
graphs were  obtained  by  O.  F.  Cook  in  Guatemala. 

3.    Pereskia  lychnidiflora  De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:475.     1828. 

Evidently  a  tree  or  shrub;  branches  cylindric,  woody;  leaves  large,  4  to  7  cm.  long,  oval  to 
oblong,  pointed,  rounded  at  base,  sessile,  fleshy,  with  a  prominent  midvein;  axils  of  leaves  each  bearing 
a  stout  spine  2  to  5  cm.  long  and  several  long  hairs ;  flowers  large,  6  cm.  broad,  solitary,  borne 
at  the  ends  of  short,  stout  branches;  petals  broadly  cuneate,  laciniate  at  the  apex;  ovary  turbinate, 
bearing  small  leaves. 

Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 
Distribution:  Mexico. 


PERESK.1A.  13 

This  Species  was  described  by  De  Candolie  from  Mocifio  and  Sesse's  drawing,  but  it  has 
never  been  collected  since,  so  far  as  we  can  learn.  Its  large  flowers  with  laciniate  petals  must 
make  this  a  very  striking  species  and  it  is  surprising  that  it  has  not  been  rediscovered. 
Schumann  thought  it  might  be  the  same  as  P.  >!!coyana  of  Costa  Rica,  but  a  study  of  recent 
Costa  Rican  collections  indicates  that  the  species  are  distinct.  The  measurements  given  in 
the  description  are  taken  from  De  Candolie' s  plate,  and  may  require  some  modification. 
Cactus  fimbrjatus  Mocifio  and  Sesse  (De  Candolie,  Prodr.  3:  475.  1828)  was  published  only 
as  a  synonym  of  this  species. 

Illnstrat!0)is:  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  pi.  18;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2,  1003. 
f.  136;  Safford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1908:  545.  f.  11. 

Text-figure  4  is  copied  from  the  first  illustration  above  cited. 

4.  Pereskia  nicoyana  Weber,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  8:468.     1902. 

Tree,  usually  about  8  meters  high;  branches  rigid,  stout,  covered  with  smooth  brown  bark;  spines 
w.inting  or  single,  long  (4  cm.  long),  stout  and  porrect;  leaves  in  fascicles  on  old  branches,  but  alternate 
on    young    shoots,    lanceolate    or    oblanceolate,    subsessile,   the   lateral   veins   almost   parallel   and   some- 


-Pereskia  nicoyana.    Xo.6. 


tunes  seeming  to  come  from  the  base,  acute,  bright  green,  and  somewhat  shining;  axils  of  the  young 
leaves  containing  long  white  hairs;  petals  reddish  yellow,  fimbriate;  ovary  pyriform,  bearing  8  to  12 
spreading  leaves,  except  the  uppermost  ones,  which  are  much  smaller  and  connivent. 

Type  loccility:  Gulf  of  Nicoya,  Costa  Rica. 

Distribution:   Costa  Rica. 

The  spines,  hairs  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  and  fimbriate  petals  indicate  a  relationship 
to  the  little-known  P.  lychiiidijlora. 

Mr.  H.  Pittier  informs  us  that  this  species  is  common  in  the  open  coastal  forests  along 
the  Pacific  side  of  Costa  Rica.  The  plant  illustrated  by  Mr.  Pittier,  referred  to  below,  has 
a  long,  slender  trunk  and  is  very  spiny. 

According  to  Mr.  W.  E.  Safford,  it  has  long,  slender  spines  and  the  habit  of  the  Osage 
orange,  and  is  used  as  a  hedge  plant  in  Costa  Rica,  where  it  is  known  as  mateare  or  puipute. 

Illustration:  Pittier,  PI.  Usuales  Costa  Rica  pi.  2. 

Text-figure  5  was  drawn  from  a  plant  obtained  by  Mr.  C.  Werckle  at  San  Jose,  Costa 
Rica,  in  1912. 


14 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


i-erv  narrow. 


5.  Pereskie  zehntneri  sp.  nov.    (See  Appendix  following  page  226). 

Shrub,  2  to  3  meters  high,  with  a  central  erect  trunk,  very  spiny;  branches  numerous,  horizontal, 
usually  in' whorls,  sometimes  as  many  as  10  in  a  whorl;  branches  terete,  green,  fleshy,  very  easily 
detached  from  the  stem;  leaves  stiff,  fleshy,  numerous,  small,  2  to  4  cm.  long,  ovate  to  orbicular, 
acute,  standing  at  right  angles  to  the  branches;  areoles  large,  filled  with  short  white  wool  and 
numerous  slender  white  spines ;  flowers  at  tops  of  branches,  large,  7  to  8  cm.  broad,  bright  red,  appear 
ing  in  November;  petals  broad,  retuse;  ovary  borne  in  the  upper  end  of  the  branch, 
3  to  4  cm.  long,  bearing  the  usual  leaves,  areoles,  and  spines  of  the  branches. 

Collected  by  Dr.  Leo  Zehntner  (Nos.  567  and 
630,  type)  November  15  and  16,  1912,  at  Bom  Jesus 
da  Lapa,  Bahia,  Brazil,  on  the  Rio  Sao  Francisco. 

This  is  a  very  rare  plant  and  seen  in  only  one 
locality,  in  soil  of  a  peculiar  chalky  formation.  Liv- 
ing plants  were  taken  by  Dr.  Zehntner  to  the  Horto 
Florestal,  Joazeiro,  Brazil,  where  they  grew  well,  and 
whence  Dr.  Rose  obtained  specimens  m  19  n  which 
were  shipped  to  the  United  States  under  No.    19722. 

The  plant  is  known  in  Bahia  under  the  name 
quiabento.  It  is  probably  not  a  true  Pereskni:  it  sug- 
gests in  its  habit  and  foliage  some  of  the  Mexican  spe- 
cies of  Peresk'ujpsis.  but  it  may  represent  a  distinct 
genus. 

Text-figures    6   and    7    are    from    the    type    plant 
above  cited. 
6.  Pereskia   sacharosa   Grisebach,    Abh.    C.es.   Wiss.    Gottin- 

gen  24:141.     1879. 

Pereskia  amapola  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  938.      1898. 
Pereskia  argentina  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  938.     1898. 
Pereskia    amapola    argentina    Weber    in    Weingart,    Mon- 
atsschr.  Kakteenk.    \4:  87.    1894. 

Small  tree  or  shrub,  6  to  8  meters  high;  branches  green 
and  smooth,  but  in  age  becoming  yellowish  or  light  brown; 
leaves  lanceolate  to  oblanceolate,  8  to  12  cm.  long,  cuneate 
at  base,  more  or  less  pointed  at  apex;  young  areole  with  1  to 
3   spines,   the   longest   5   cm.   long,  the  others  when   present 

not  over  half  as  long,   all  acicular  and   dark   in   age;   older  ^^  ^  ^^  _  ^ 

areoles  often  with  6  or  more  spines;  pedicels  sometimes   10 
mm.    long;    flowers    in    terminal    clusters,    either    white    or 

rose-colored  and  very  showy,  8  cm.  broad,  open  at  midday;  sepals  about  8,  1  or  2  petal-like,  the  others 
scale-like,  the  outer  sepals  and  upper  scales  bearing  long  hairs;  petals  8,  rose-colored,  oblanceolate, 
3  cm.  long;  stamens  free  from  the  petals,  numerous,  unequal,  erect;  filaments,  style,  and  stigma- 
lobes  white;  ovules  borne  on  the  lower  part  of  ovary;  ovary  bearing  small  leaves,  their  axils  filled  with 
short  wool  and  occasionally  bearing  a  spine;  fruit  hard,  2.5  to  4  cm.  in  diameter,  more  or  less  tapering 
at  base,  many-seeded,  leafless  or  nearly  so,  sometimes  proliferous. 

Type  locality:  Cobos,  Oran,  Argentina. 

Distribution:  Paraguay  and  Argentina. 

Schumann  (Gesamtb.  Kakteen  765.  1898)  gives  Opuntia  sacharosa  Grisebach  as  a 
synonym  of  this  species,  but  erroneously,  since  it  was  never  taken  up  by  Grisebach  as  an 
Opuntia.  The  Index  Kewensis  refers  this  species  to  P.  aculeata.  doubtless  following 
Hooker's  references  in  Curtis's  Botanical  Magazine  for  1890  in  regard  to  Argentine  plants, 
which  even  then  were  little  known. 

The  common  name  of  this  plant  in  Argentina  is  sacharosa.  It  is  sometimes  used  as 
a  hedge  plant. 

Plate  II,  figure  4,  represents  a  leafy  branch  of  a  plant  given  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  by  Frank  Weinberg  in  1903;  figure  5  shows  its  fruit. 


PERESKIA. 


15 


7.  Pereskia  moorei  sp.  nov. 

A  much  branched  shrub  about  1  mcttr  high,  covered  with  brown  bark ;  branches  stout ;  leaves 
orbicular  or  obovate-oblong,  rounded  or  apiculate  at  the  apex,  somewhat  cuneately  narrowed  at  the 
base,  thick  and  fleshy,  4  to  8  cm.  long,  3.5  to  6  cm.  wide;  areoles  suborbicular,  4.5  mm.  in  diameter, 
the  wool  gray;  spines  at  each  areole  mostly  2  to  4,  very  unequal,  the  longest  7.5  cm.  long  or  less,  ashy 
gray,  blackish  toward  the  apex;  flowers  purplish  red,  about  4.5  cm.  long;  ovary  few-leafed,  its  leaves 
obovate-oblong,  2.5  to  3  cm.  long,  bearing  1  to  3  black  spines  about  5  mm.  long  in  the  axils;  sepals 
narrowly  oblong-obovate,  bluntly  acute,  2.5  cm.  long,  bearing  long  bristles  in  their  axils;  petals 
obovate,  obtuse,  3.5  cm.  long,  rose-colored;  stamens  about  2  cm.  long;  areoles  on  the  ovary  large, 
filled  with  a  mass  of  short,  white  wool  and  bearing  an  occasional  short  spine;  fruit  not  known. 


Pereskia  gua 


Described  from  the  specimen  preserved  in  the  herbarium  of  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History  collected  at  Corumba,  Brazil,  by  Spencer  Moore,  No.  955,  who  has  kindly 
furnished  us  with  data  for  this  description,  together  with  a  sketch  of  the  type  specimen. 
Specimens  were  also  collected  at  Corumba  by  F.  C.  Hoehne  in  1908,  No.  4863,  who  supposed 
it  to  be  P.  sacharosa. 

Figure  8  is  from  a  photograph  of  an  herbarium  specimen  from  Matto  Grosso,  Brazil, 
received  from  F.  C.  Hoehne  in  1915. 


8.  Pereskia  weberiana  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  762 


1898. 


Shrubby,  much  branched,  glabrous,  2  to  3  meters  high,  the  slender  round  branches  about  3  mm. 
thick;  leaves  ovate  to  elliptic,  about  3  cm.  long  and  2  cm.  wide,  sessile,  acute  at  the  apex,  obtuse  at 
the  base;  areoles  circular,  slightly  elevated,  the  wool  short,  whitish,  fading  brown;  spines  3  to  6  at  the 
lower  areoles,  solitary  at  the  upper,  2  cm.  long  or  less,  terete,  acicular,  yellow  or  horn-colored;  flowers 
clustered,  white,  about  1  cm.  long  or  less;  ovary  about  2  mm.  long,  bearing  a  few  white,  woolly  areoles; 
outer  segments  of  the  perianth  triangular,  acute,  woolly  at  the  axils,  the  inner  spatulate  to  obovate; 
stamens  a  little  longer  than  the  petals ;  stigma-lobes  3  or  4,  erect. 


16 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


Type  locality.  Tunari  Mountains,*  Bolivia,  at  l,-i()()  meters  altitude. 

Distribution:  Bolivia,  known  only  from  the  type  locality. 

This  species  is  said  to  flower  in  May. 

The  description  has  been  drawn  from  a  cotype  in  the  herbarium  of  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden,  and  from  Professor  Schumann's  original  account  of  the  species  in  his 
Gesamtbeschreibung  der  Kakteen,  p.  762.  Dr.  Kuntze  obtained  the  specimens  during  his 
botanical  exploration  of  Bolivia  in  1892.  The  species  was  named,  but  nt)t  described,  by 
Professor  Schumann  in  Dr.  Kuntze's  Revisio  Genera  Plantarum  (3':  107.    1893). 

The  material  preserved  is  too  imperfect  to  enable  us  to  give  an  illustration  of  this 
plant. 


Fig    1(1  — Ptreskia  guamacho 

9.  Pereskia  guamacho  Weber,  Diet,  Hort.  Bois  938.     1 89« 

Plant  very  spiny,  usually  a  small  shrub  1  to  3  meters  high,  but  often  a  tree  10  meters  high 
with  a  trunk  up  to  4  dm.  in  diameter  and  3  meters  long  or  more  below  the  much  branched  top; 
areoles  rather  prominent,  especially  in  age  often  standing  out  like  small  knobs  on  the  branches,  filled 
with  brown  felt,  at  first  usually  with  only  1  to  4  spines  along  with  a  few  short  accessory  ones,  but  in 
age  often  with  20  spines  or  more;  spines  somewhat  divaricate,  rigid,  brown,  the  longer  ones  often 
4  cm.  long;  leaves  on  young  branches  solitary,  but  on  old  wood  growing  in  fascicles,  acute,  lanceolate 
to  ovate  or  obovate  with  cuneate  bases,  usually  about  3  cm.  long,  but  sometimes  5  to  9  cm.  long  by 
3  to  6  cm.  broad,  fleshy ;  flowers  probably  solitary,  but  so  thickly  set  along  the  branches  as  to  appear 
almost  spicate,  sessile,  bright  yellow,  4  cm.  broad;  ovary  covered  with  small,  lanceolate-acuminate  leaves, 
these  hairy  in  the  axils;  stamens  numerous;  fruit  globular,  about  2  cm.  in  diameter,  becoming  naked,  said 
to  be  orange-colored  and  edible;  seeds  black,  flattened,  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Basin  of  the  Orinoco,  Venezuela. 

Distribution:  Venezuela  mainland  and  on  Margarita  Island. 

This  plant  is  very  common  not  only  in  the  flat  land  along  the  coast  of  Venezuela  but 
also  in  the  mountains.  It  is  also  widely  grown  in  and  about  yards,  for  the  leaves  are 
supposed  to  have  medicinal  properties,  and  when  properly  grown  as  a  hedge  it  forms  a 

*Tunari  Mountains,  just  northwest  of  Cochabamba,  Bolivia,  about  at  the  site  of  Sacaba. 


17 


most  formidable  protection.  In  the  grazing  regions  of  the  country  and  along  railways 
where  wire  fencing  is  employed,  the  trunks  and  larger  branches  are  used  for  posts  and 
smaller  branches  for  intervening  supports;  these  posts  and  stays,  however,  do  not  die,  but 
in  time  grow  to  considerable  size. 

Although  the  wood,  especially  the  branches,  has  little  strength  or  endurance,  it  is  used 
somewhat  for  making  hanging  baskets  for  orchids.  It  is  known  everywhere  as  guamacho, 
which  was  taken  by  Weber  as  the  specific  name  for  the  plant. 

Figures  9  and  10  are  from  photographs  taken  by  Mr.  H.  Pittier  at  Caracas,  Venezuela, 
in  1913. 

Illustration:   Carnegie  Inst.  Wash.  269:  pi.  II,  f.  92,  93- 

10.  Pereskia  colombiana  sp.  nov. 

A  tree,  6  to  11  meters  high,  or  sometimes  smaller  and  shrub-like;  main  stem  covered  with  clus- 
ters of  slender  spines,  2.5  to  7  cm.  long;  branches  glabrous,  either  bearing  spines  or  naked,  covered 
with  light-brown  bark;  areoles  small,  woolly;  leaves  oblong  to  obliquely 
orbicular,  short-petioled,  unarmed  at  base,  often  broad  above,  usually  acute, 
probably  fleshy,  glabrous,  4  cm.  long  or  less;  flowers  bright  yellow, 
opening  about  midday,  borne  on  the  old  wood,  solitary,  sessile,  4  cm.  broad ; 
ovary  covered  with  small  ovate,  acute  leaves,  these  hairy  in  the  axils ;  sepals 
oblong,  obtuse,  about  1  cm.  long,  entire  on  the  margins;  stamens  numerous; 
fruit  not  known. 

Collected  by  Herbert  H.  Smith  at  low  altitudes  near  Santa 
Marta,  Colombia,  in  April,  1898  to  1905  (No.  1886,  type),  and 
from  the  same  locality  by  Justin  Goudot  in  1844,  and  by  Francis  W. 
Pennell  in  1918  (No.  4765). 

Mr.  Smith  remarks  that  the  leaves  are  deciduous  in  March  or 
April,  and  that  the  tree  is  leafless  when  in  bloom  in  the  spring. 

Figure  11  is  copied  from  a  drawing  of  an  herbarium  specimen 
collected  by  Herbert  H.  Smith  at  Ronda,  Santa  Marta,  Colombia. 

11.  Pereskia  tampicana  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  939.     1898. 

Shrub;  branches  often  without  spines  or  the  spines  several,  needle- 
like, black,  2  to  3  cm.  long ;  areoles  globular,  appearing  as  knobs  along  the 
stem;  leaves  about  5  cm.  long,  petioled;  flowers  2.5  cm.  long;  petals  entire, 
rose-colored. 

Type  locality:  Near  Tampico,  Mexico. 

Distribution:    Eastern  Mexico,  but  known  only  from  the  type  locality. 

P.  tampicana  is  not  well  known  and  has  been  reported  only  from  Tampico,  Mexico. 
Dr.  E.  Palmer  made  a  careful  search  for  it  some  years  ago  at  the  type  locality,  but  in  vain. 
In  1912  Dr.  Rose  examined  the  two  small  specimens  of  the  species  preserved  in  the 
herbarium  of  the  Royal  Botanical  Garden  of  Berlin,  and  is  convinced  that  it  is  a  Pereskia 
and  not  a  Pereskiopsis. 

Pereskia  rosea  A.  Dietrich  (AUg.  Gartenz.  19:  153.  1^51;  Opuntia  rosea  S,chum3.nn., 
Gesamtb.  Kakteen  764.  1898)  is  supposed  to  have  come  from  Mexico,  but  we  have  not 
been  able  to  identify  it;  Schumann  refers  to  it  in  a  note  under  P.  tampicana.  Here  he  also 
takes  up  Pereskia  zinn/aejlora  De  Candolle  (Prodr.  3:  475.  1828).  Both  these  specific  names 
are  much  older  than  P.  tampicana,  and  should  either  of  them  be  found  identical  with  it,  the 
name  P.  tampicana  would  be  rejected. 

12.  Pereskia  bleo   (HBK.)   De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:475.     1828. 

CmIus  bleo  Humboldt,  Bonpland,  and  Kunth,  Nov.  Gen.  et  Sp.  6:  69.      1823. 
Peresi/ii  panamensis  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  739.     1898. 

A  tree,  sometimes  7  meters  high;  trunk  10  cm.  in  diameter  or  less,  when  old  becoming  naked,  but 
young  shoots  often  bear  large  fascicles  of  spines  (sometimes  2  5  or  more)  ;  young  branches  red,  leafy, 
its  spines  in  fascicles  of  5  and  6,  but  young  shoots  often  bear  but  1  to  4,  black,  acicular,  up  to  2.5  cm. 


. — Pereskia  cole 
biana.     XO.5. 


18 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


long;  leaves  thin,  oblong  to  oblanceolate,  16  to  21  cm.  long,  a  to  5.5  cm.  wide,  acuminate,  cuneate  at 
base,  tapering  into  petioles  2  to  3.5  cm.  long;  areoles  circular,  bearing  when  young  a  little  wool,  but 
soon  becoming  naked;  calyx  turbinate,  somewhat  angled,  naked,  with  linear  deciduous  sepals; 
petals  12  to  15,  rose-colored,  obovate,  3.5  cm.  long;  style  longer  than  the  stamens,  red,  thick;  stigma- 
lobes  5  to  7;  ovary  depressed;  fruit  yellow,  truncate,  5  to  6  cm.  long;  seeds  6  mm.  long,  black, 
shining. 

Type  locality:   Near  BadiUas,  on  the  Magdalena  River,  Colombia,  South  America. 

Distributio)!:    Northwestern  South  America  and  throughout  Panama. 

This  species  was  collected  by  Bonpland  during  Humboldt's  trip  through  the  New 
World  and  was  described  and  published  by  Kunth  in  1823.  Dr.  Rose  examined  two  of 
the  original  specimens  in  the  herbarium  of  the  Museum  of  Natural  History  at  Paris,  one 
being  the  specimen  given  by  Bonpland  and  the  other  the  specimen  in  the  Kunth  Herbarium, 


which  is  kept  distinct  from  the  general  herbarium.  The  only  other  representatives  of  this 
species  from  South  America  which  we  have  seen  are  a  specimen  in  the  herbarium  of  the 
same  museum,  which  was  collected  by  Justin  Goudot  in  Colombia  in  1844,  and  one  collected 
in  1852,  by  I.  F.  Holton  at  San  Juancito,  Colombia,  preserved  in  the  Torrey  Herbarium 
and  one  recently  brought  by  Francis  W.  Pennell  from  Boca  Verde,  Rio  Sinu,  Colombia. 

Heretofore  Pereskia  bleo  has  been  considered  one  of  the  most  common  species,  for 
many  living  collections  as  well  as  herbaria  contain  many  specimens  under  that  name;  the 
plant  which  has  been  known  as  P.  bleo.  however,  is  P.  grandijolia  Haworth,  now  known  to 
be  a  native  of  Brazil  and  not  found  wild  in  Colombia. 

Since  determining  that  the  so-called  Pereskia  bleo  of  our  gardens  and  of  Brazil  is  not 
the  true  P.  bleo  of  Humboldt,  we  have  become  convinced  that  P.  pananiensis  Weber  is  the 
same  as  P.  bleo;  Mr.  Pittier's  exhaustive  exploration  of  Panama  has  strengthened  our  con- 
clusions, for  he  has  traced  this  species  as  far  south  as  the  Colombian  border.  Humboldt's 
plant  came  from  northern  Colombia. 

In  Panama  the  plant  is  known  under  the  name  najii  de  Culebra. 


PERESKIA.  19 

llhistrutiotis:  All  illustrations  referred  to  this  species  which  we  have  examined  are 
cited  under  P.  i^randijo/ia. 

Figure  12  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Henry  Pittier,  near  Chepo,  Panama,  October 
30,  19  n. 

13.  Pereskia  bahiensis  Giirke,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  18:86.     1908. 

Shrub  or  tree,  sometimes  8  meters  high,  with  a  more  or  less  definite  trunk,  sometimes  1  meter  or 
more  long  and  1.5  to  2  dm.  in  diameter,  and  a  large,  rounded,  much  branched  top;  spines  on  new 
growth  wanting,  but  on  old  wood  5  to  40  at  an  areole,  some  of  them  5  to  9  cm.  long;  young  branches 
green ;  leaves  lanceolate,  6  to  9  cm.  long,  deciduous,  somewhat  pointed, 
narrowed  at  base  into  short  petioles ;  flowers  in  small  panicles,  rose- 
colored  ;  ovary  bearing  large  leaves  with  cuneate  bases ;  fruit  often 
proliferous,  yellowish  when  mature,  more  or  less  irregularly  angled, 
bearing  large  leaves  3  to  4  cm.  long,  which  ultimately  fall  away;  seeds 
black,  oblong,  5  mm.  long. 

Type  locality:  In  the  southeast  catinga  between  Rio 
Paraguacu  at  Tambury  and  Rio  das  Contas  at  Caldeirao, 
Bahia,  Brazil. 

Distribution:   Dry  parts  of  eastern  Brazil. 

This  species  is  very  common  in  the  dry  regions  of  Bahia; 
and  is  often  planted  for  hedges  about  small  towns.     The  fruit 
is  proliferous;  as  many  as  eight  were  found  hanging  from  a 
single  peduncle;  it  is  said 
to    be    edible,    but    while 
half-ripe    is    very    astrin- 
gent.    The    perfect    fruits 
can  seldom  be  found,  be- 
cause the  birds  peck  into 
them   for  the  large  black 
seeds. 

Called  in  Brazil, 
according  to  Dr.  Leo 
Zehntner,  Iniabanto, 
Espinha  de  Sao  Antonio, 
and  Flor  de  Cera.  He  also 
says:     "I  think  Iniabanto 

is  the  best  and  ought  to  be  generalized.  It  is  derived  from  Iniabo=  Ok:^  =  Hibiscus  esculeti- 
tus,  without  doubt  because  the  leaves  of  the  pereskias  are  sometimes  eaten  by  people,  giving 
a  mucilaginous  dish  like  that  of  the  Hibiscus  fruit." 

Illustration:  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  18:  87. 

Figure  13  is  from  a  specimen,  preserved  in  formalin,  collected  by  J.  N.  Rose  near  Ma- 
chado  Portello,  Bahia,  Brazil,  in  June  1915;  figure  14  is  from  a  plant  from  the  same  place; 
figure  15  is  from  a  photograph  obtained  by  J.  N.  Rose  at  Barrinha,  Bahia,  in  June  1915. 

14.  Pereskia  grandifolia  Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  85.     1819- 

Gn/Jis  rosa  Vellozo,  Fl.  Flum.  206.     1825. 

Pereskia  ochnacarpa  Miquel,  Bull.  Sci.  Phys.  Nat.  Neerl.  48.  1838. 
Cactus  grandiflonis  Link,  Enum.  Hort.  Berol.  2:  25.  1822. 
Tree  or  shrub,  2  to  5  meters  high,  usually  with  a  definite,  very  spiny,  woody  trunk  up  to  1  dm. 
in  diameter,  the  branches  fleshy,  glabrous,  elongated,  usually  with  1  or  2  acicular  spines  at  the  areoles; 
leaves  oblong,  obtuse  or  acute,  somewhat  narrowed  at  base,  8  to  15  cm.  long;  petioles  short;  inflorescence 
terminal,  usually  few-flowered;  3.5  to  4  cm.  broad;  sepals  green,  petals  rose-colored,  sometimes  white; 
filaments  red;  style  and  stigma-lobes  white;  ovary  leaf-bearing;  fruit  described  as  large,  pear-shaped, 
many-seeded ;  seeds  black. 

Type  locality:  In  Brazil. 

Distribution:    Brazil,  widely  planted  and   subspontaneous  throughout  the  West  Indies. 


Figs. 


20 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


The  plant  is  extensively  used  for  hedges  in  tropical  America.  It  is  planted  by  pushing 
cuttings  into  the  ground,  its  spiny  stems  soon  forming  a  capital  barrier. 

lUustratious:  Vellozo,  Fl.  Flum.  5:  pi.  27,  as  Cactus  rosa.  Amer.  Garden  II:  462;  Blii- 
hende  Kakteen  3:  137,  pi.  137;  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  63:  pi.  3478;  Cycl.  Amer.  Hort.  Bailey  I 
f.  309;  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  f.  678;  Edwards's  Bot.  Mag.  17:  pi.  1473;  Engler  and  Prantl,  Pflan 
zen  fam.  3'^:  f.  57,  J,  f.  71;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  20:  f.  75;  Karsten,  Deutsch.  Fl.  887.  f.  9,  ed 
2.  2:  456  f.  605,  No.  9;  Martius,  Fl.  Bras.  4r:  pi.  63;  Pfeiffer  and  Otto,  Abbild.  Beschr.  Cact 
I:  pi.  30;  Reichenbach,  Fl.  Exot.  pi.  328;  Rumpler,  Sukkulenten  f.  128;  Watson,  Cact.  Cult 
f.  6,  in  part;  222.  f.  87;  ed.  3  f.  63;  Loudon,  Enc7cl.  PI.  ed.  3.  1202  f.  17371;  Van  Geel,  Sert 
Bot.  4:  pi.  I,  all  as  Pereskia  bleo.  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  3:  75.  f.  81;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk 
15:  81. 


— Pereskia  bahiensis.    Photograph  by  Paul  G.  Russell. 

Plate  III,  figure   1,  represents  a  flowering  branch  of  a  plant  obtained  by  N.  L.  Britton 
on  St.  Christopher  in  1901.    Figure  16  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  used  as  a  hedge 
near  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 
15.    Pereskia  zinniaeflora  De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:475.     1828. 

Shrub ;  leaves  oval  to  oblong,  2  to  4  cm.  long,  acuminate,  cuneate  at  base ;  spines  on  young 
branches  1  or  2  at  an  areole,  on  old  branches  4  or  5,  all  short,  less  than  1  cm.  long;  flowers  broad, 
5  cm.  wide,  rose-red;  petals  entire,  obtuse  or  retuse;  style  and  stamens  very  short;  ovary  truncate,  bear- 
ing small,  stalked  leaves. 

Type  locality:    In  Mexico. 

Distribution:    Mexico. 

Nicholson  associates  this  species  with  Pereskia  bleo,  that  is,  P.  grandijolia,  but  the 
relationship    is    not    close.     The   measurements  of  the  flower  given  above  are  taken  from 


ITTON   AND   ROSE 


Flowering  branch  of  Peiesk/a  graiidifolia.  2.      Leafy  branch  m   I'ntskiopsts  cLip/jtle. 

3.     Leafy  branch  of  Pereskiopsis  pitilache.    (All  three-fourths  size.) 


PERESKIA.  21 

De  CandoUe's  plate  cited  below,  and  may  not  be  quite  correct.  This  species,  so  far  as  we 
are  aware,  has  not  been  again  collected. 

Cactus  zi>i>i!dc\lora  Mociiio  and  Sessc  (De  Candolle,  Prt)dr.  3:  475.  1828)  was  given 
as  a  synonym. 

lllustiations:  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  135;  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17: 
pi.  17;  Riimpler,  Sukkulenten  f.  127;  Suppl.  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  f.  624;  Watson  Cact. 
Cult.  ed.  1  and  2.  223.  f.  88;  ed.  3  f.  64;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  4:  586.  f.  55. 

Figure  17  is  a  copy  of  the  second  illustration  above  cited. 


horridus  Humboldt,  BonpUmd,  a.^d  Kun:h,  No\.  Gen    et  Sp.  (>;  70. 
skia  horrida  De  Ondolle,   Prodr.  3:  475.      1828 

Tree,  4  to  6  meters  high,  with  terete  slender  branciies;  spines  often  solitary,  sometimes  2  or 
3,  slender,  dark  in  color,  unequal,  the  longest  2  to  3  cm.  long;  leaves  solitary,  altetnate,  narrowly 
oblong,  3  cm.  long,  subsessile,  entire,  glabrous;  flowers  3  to  5  together  in  upper  axils,  about  10  mm. 
long;  calyx  described  as  5-toothed  and  persistent;  petals  ^  or  6,  red,  lanceolate,  spreading;  fruit  fleshy, 
many-seeded. 

Type  locality:    "Ad   flumen   M. 
this  locality  is  in  Peru.) 

Distribution:    Northwestern  South  America. 

The  above  description  is  compiled  from  Kunth's  original  description  and  from  notes 
made  by  Dr.  Rose  upon  the  type  material  in  the  herbarium  of  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History  at  Paris,  in  which  there  are  specimens  from  both  Bonpland  and  Kunth.  Both  of 
these  sheets  lack  flowers  and  fruit,  and  only  Kunth's  bears  leaves.    So  far  as  we  are  aware, 


ranoii   prov.     Jaen    de    Bracamoros."     (Schumann    says 


22  THE    CACTACEAE. 

no  other  material  of  this  species  has  been  collected  since  Humboldt's  time  except  that  in 
1912  Dr.  Weberbauer  wrote  that  he  had  visited  the  Marafion,  at  Humboldt's  locality,  and 
had  collected  a  single  specimen,  which  had  been  sent  to  the  Botanical  Museum  at  Berlin. 
17.  Pereskia  cubensis  Britton  and  Rose,  Torreya  12:13.     1912. 

A  tree,  4  meters  high,  with  a  trunk  2.5  dm.  in  diameter  and  a  large,  flat,  much  branched  top; 
bark  brownish,  rather  smooth,  marked  here  and  there  by  black  bands  (representing  the  old  areoles), 
these  broader  than  high;  young  branches  slender,  smooth,  with  light-brown  bark;  spines  from  young 
areoles  2  or  3,  needle-like,  brownish,  2  to  4  cm.  long,  from  old  areoles  very  numerous  (25  or  more), 
and  much  longer  (5  cm.  or  more  long)  ;  leaves  several  at  each  areole,  sessile,  bright  green  on  both 
sides,  oblanceolate  to  oblong  or  obovate,  1  to  4  cm.  long,  10  to  12  mm.  wide,  acute  at  both  ends  or 
obtuse  at  the  apex,  fleshy,  the  midvein  broad,  the  lateral  veins  very  obscure;  peduncle  very  short,  jointed 
near  the  base,  bearing  1  to  3  leaf-like  bracts;  flowers  terminal  and  also  axillary,  solitary;  sepals  5,  obtuse 
or  rounded,  ovate-oblong  to  orbicular,  unequal,  7  to  9  mm.  long,  the  larger  ones  with  broad  purple  mar- 
gins; petals  8,  about  15  mm.  long,  deep  reddish  purple,  obovate-elliptic,  rounded;  stamens  many,  about 
6  mm.  long;  anthers  light  yellow;  ovary  turbinate,  naked,  spineless;  fruit  not  seen. 


. — Pereski.i  cubensis.  Fig.  19. — Pereskia  cubensis. 

X0.5 

Type  locality:    In  Cuba. 

Dhtrihtition:    Near  the  southern  coast  of  eastern  and  central  Cuba. 

The  tree  is  abundant  on  the  plain  between  Guantanamo  and  Caimanera,  Oriente, 
where  the  type  specimens  were  collected;  it  also  inhabits  coastal  thickets  at  Ensenada  de 
Mora,  in  southwestern  Oriente,  the  plants  of  this  colony  bearing  leaves  with  less  acute 
apices  than  those  of  the  typical  ones.  A  single  plant  was  also  observed  on  La  Vigia  Hill, 
at  Trinidad,  province  of  Santa  Clara,  which  had  shorter  and  smaller  leaves  than  either  of 
the  other  two.  The  description  of  the  flower  is  from  one  of  a  plant  collected  by  N.  L. 
Britton  and  J.  F.  Cowell  at  Ensenada  de  Mora,  southern  Oriente,  Cuba,  in  1912,  and  brought 
to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden,  where  it  flowered  in  May  1917. 

Dr.  Rose  finds  that  the  plant  in  De  Candolle's  herbarium  which  represents  the  Pereskia 
portulac/folia  of  the  Prodromus  is  undoubtedly  Pereskia  cubensis.  It  was  collected  as  early 
as  1821. 

Illustration:  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  10:  f.  22. 

Figure  18  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  M.  A.  Howe  in  the  colony  of  this  tree 
at  Nuevaliches,  near  Guantanamo,  Cuba,  studied  by  Dr.  N.  L.  Britton  in  1909;  figure  19 
represents  a  leafy  branch  of  the  same  plant. 


PERESKIA.  23 

18.  Pereskia  portulacifolia  (Linnaeus)  Haworth  in  De  Cindolle,  Prodr.  3:475.     1828. 
Cactus  porlulacijoliia  Linnaeus,  Sp.  PI.  469.      1753. 
A  tree,    5  to  6.6  meters  hi^h,   the  branches  terete,   very  spiny;   spines  acicular,   sometimes   almost 
bristle-Hke,   2  cm.   long,  on  old  wood   in  clusters  of  7  to  9,  but  on  new  growth  usually  solitary;  leaves 


only  1  cm.  long  or  less,  cuneate  at  base,  often  retuse  at  apex;  peduncles  short  but  definite,  2  to  5  mm. 
long,  bearing  several  small  spatulate  to  broadly  obovate  leaves ;  flowers  rose-colored,  about  3  cm.  broad ; 
sepals  about  3,  ovate  to  shortly  oblong,  obtuse,  fleshy,  8  mm.  or  less  long;  petals  oblong,  about  2  cm. 
long,  thin,  obtuse;  ovary  small,  truncate,  naked  or  bearing  a  single  small  leaf;  immature  fruit  hard, 
depressed,  2  cm.  long,  2.5  cm.  broad,  smooth,  naked,  or  with  a  single  small  leaf  5  to  6  mm.  long,  with  a 
broad  scar  at  the  top  8  to  10  mm.  in  diameter;  fruit  globular,  naked;  seeds  large,  black. 

Type  locality:    Tropical  America,  cloubtless  Hispaniola. 

Distribution:   Haiti. 

The  usual  reference  for  the  first  publication  of  the  plant  under  Pereskia  is  Haworth's 
Synopsis  (Syn.  Pi.  Succ.  199.  1812),  but  it  was  not  here  formally  transferred  from  the 
genus  Cactus.    His  statement  is:    "Cactus  portulacijnlius   is  another  species  of  this  genus." 

Our  knowledge  of  this  plant  is  drawn  from  the  illustration  below  cited  and  descriptions, 
and    from   a    fragmentary   specimen   collected  by  W.  Buch  near  Gonaives,  Haiti,  in  1900, 


24  THE    CACTACEAE, 

where  it  grows  on  dry  calcareous  rocks,  and  one  obtained  by  Paul  Bartsch  at  Tomaseau  in 
April  1917.  Dr.  Bartsch  states  that  the  flower  reminds  one  very  much  of  a  rose  and  the 
fruit  is  pendent  like  a  green  plum. 

Lunan  in  1814  (Hort.  Jam.  2:  236)  described  a  tree  nearly  a  foot  in  diameter,  growing 
at  a  residence  near  Spanish  Town,  Jamaica,  stating  that  it  differed  from  Pereskia  by  the 
absence  of  tufts  of  leaves  on  its  fruit.  His  description  points  to  Pereskia  portiiliicijoHd.  but 
nothing  is  known  of  the  species  in  Jamaica  at  the  present  day;  according  to  Grisebach, 
Macfadyen  recorded  it  as  cultivated  there. 

Illustration:    Plumier,  PI.  Amer.  ed  Burmann  pi.  197,  f.  1. 

Figure  20  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

19-  Pereskia  conzattii  sp.  nov. 

Tree,  8  to  10  meters  high;  bark  of  stems  and  branches  brown  and  smooth;  leaves  orbicular  to 
obovate,  acute,  1  to  2.5  cm.  long;  areoles  small,  with  short  white  wool  and  a  few  long  hairs ;  spines  2 
to  6  on  young  branches,  10  to  20  on  main  stem;  acicular,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long,  at  first  yellowish  brown, 
dark  brown  in  age;  flowers  not  known;  ovary  bearing  small  scales;  fruit  naked,  pear-shaped,  more  or 
less  stalked  at  base,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  seeds  black,  glossy,  3  mm.  long,  with  a  small  white  hilum. 

Collected   at  Salina  Cruz  and  Tehuantepec,   Oaxaca,    Mexico,    in    February   and    April, 
1913,   by  Professor  C.   Conzatti;   probably  also  in  Guatemala. 
Species  Unknown  to  Us. 

Peresii.i  ^fjnus  and  P.  hajgeana  Meinshausen.  Wochenschr.  Garin.  Pfl.inz.  2:118.     1859. 

Pereskia  cruenta,  P.  grandiflora.  and  P.  ( ?)  plantagi>iea.  the  first  two  given  as  synonyms 
and  the  last  merely  mentioned  by  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  pp.  176,  177,  and  179)  can  not  be 
identified.    The  same  is  true  of  P.  graudispi/ni  Forbes  (Journ.  Hort.  Tour  Germ.  159.  1837). 

Pereskia  reciirvi^olia  and  P.  galeottiana  are  two  names  marked  with  an  asterisk  by  Lemaire 
(Cactees  95.  1868),  indicating  that  they  are  new.    So  far  as  we  know  they  were  never  de- 

^^'■'^^'^-  Tribe  2.  OPUNTIEAE. 

Plants  usually  very  fleshy,  never  epiphytic,  branched  (usually  much  branched),  one  to  many-jointed; 
joints  diverse  in  structure,  terete,  compressed,  or  much  flattened,  with  irregularly  scattered  areoles, 
ribless,  except  one  species;  leaves  usually  caducous,  but  in  some  species  more  or  less  persistent,  small 
or  minute,  subulate  or  cylindric,  in  one  genus  broad  and  flat;  areoles  usually  glochidiferous  (except 
in  Maihuenia:  in  Grusouta  only  those  of  the  ovary),  mostly  spine-bearing;  spines  usually  slender, 
straight  or  nearly  so,  sometimes  sheathed;  corolla  mostly  rotate  (sepals  and  petals  in  Nopalea  erect)  ; 
flowers  sessile,  diurnal,  one  from  an  areole;  fruit  usually  a  fleshy  berry,  sometimes  dry,  rarely  capsular; 
seed  white  or  black,  globular,  flattened  or  even  winged,  with  a  thin  or  hard  testa;  cotyledons  large, 
elongated. 

This  tribe  contains  7  genera  and  at  least  300  species,  various  in  habit,  flower,  fruit, 
and  seeds.  It  is  more  closely  related  to  the  Pereskieae  than  to  the  Cereeae.  The  following 
characters  possessed  by  some  or  all  genera  of  the  Opitntieae  are  wanting  in  the  Cereeae: 

Leaves  on  the  stem  (see  also  Harrisia  and  Hylocereiis);  glochids  in  the  areoles;  sensi- 
tive stamens;  sheathed  spines;  winged,  white,  and  bony-covered  seeds;  the  separation  of 
withering  calyx,  stamens,  and  style  from  the  ovary;  areoles  irregularly  distributed  over  the 
stem  in  all  the  genera  except  Griisonia,  in  which  they  are  arranged  on  ribs  as  in  many  of 
the  Cereeae. 

The  tribe  is  distributed  throughout  the  cactus  regions  of  the  Americas,  but  the  genera, 
except  Opuntia,  are  localized.  j^^^^,  ^^  Genera. 

Leaves  broad  and  flat 1-  Peresiiopsh 

Leaves  subulate  or  cylindric. 

Seeds  broadly  winged 2.   Pterocacltis 

Seeds  wingless. 

Stamens  much  longer  than  the  petals. 

Petals  erect;  joints  flat \  ^opalea 

Petals  recurved ;  joints  terete 4.  Taanga 

Stamens  shorter  than  the  petals. 
Joints  flat  to  terete,  not  ribbed. 

Testa  of  the  seed  thin,  black,  shining 5.   Mii/juenia 

Testa  thick,  pale,  dull 6.  Opuntm 

Joints  terete,  longitudinally  ribbed 7.  Grusoma 


PERESKIOPSIS.  25 

1.  PERESKIOPSIS  Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:3.31.     1907. 

Trees  and  shrubs,  in  habit  and  foliage  similar  to  Pereskia:  old  trunk  forming  a  solid  woody 
cylinder  covered  with  bark  and  resembling  the  ordinary  dicotyledonous  stem;  areoles  circular,  spine- 
bearing  or  sometimes  spineless,  also  bearing  hairs,  wool,  and  usually  glochids;  flowers  similar  to  those 
of  Opitiitia:  ovary  sessile  (one  species  described  as  pedunculate),  with  leaves  at  the  areoles  (except  in 
one  species);   fruit  red,  juicy;  seeds  bony,   few,  covered  with  matted  hairs. 

Type  Species:   Opinit'ui  brniidei^eei  Schumann. 

The  plants  are  common  in  hedges  and  thickets  of  Mexico  and  Guatemala. 

As  to  the  number  of  species  to  be  recognized  in  this  genus  we  are  uncertain;  about  16 
have  been  described.  In  our  first  discussion  of  the  genus  (op.  cit.)  we  recognized  11 
species,  including  several  known  only  from  descriptions.  There  now  seem  to  be  at  least 
10  species,  of  which  8  are  in  cultivation  in  Washington  and  New  York.  Two  of  the  plants 
were  described,  as  early  as  1828,  as  species  of  Peresk/d.  and  here  they  remained  with  2 
later-described  species  until,  in  1898,  Dr.  A.  Weber  transferred  them  to  Opuiitia.  placing 
them  in  a  new  subgenus,  Pereskiopuiitia.  The  same  year  Dr.  Karl  Schumann  adopted 
Weber's  conclusions,  publishing  his  treatment  of  the  subgenus  and  assigning  5  species  to  it. 

In  its  large  leaves  and  woody,  spiny  stems,  this  group  suggests  Pereskia.  but  it  has 
glochids  and  different  flowers,  fruit,  and  seeds;  in  flowers,  fruit,  seeds,  and  glochids  it  re- 
sembles Opniit'ui.  but  on  account  of  habit  and  foliage  must  be  excluded  from  that  genus. 

In  view  of  these  differences,  Britton  and  Rose  in  1907  established  the  genus  Peres- 
kiopsis  and  listed  1 1  species,  4  of  which  had  been  originally  described  as  species  of  Pereskia 
and  5  as  species  of  Opinitia.  Since  then  we  have  grown  most  of  these  plants  along  with 
the  pereskias  and  opuntias  so  as  to  compare  them.  Unfortunately  we  are  not  able  to 
describe  all  the  species  fully,  for  they  have  never  been  known  to  flower  in  cultivation, 
although  some  of  the  species,  at  least,  bloom  freely  in  the  wild  state.  The  leaves  on  the 
lower  parts  of  shoots  are  sometimes  broader  and  shorter  than  those  on  the  upper  parts,  and 
in  greenhouse  cultivation  the  leaves  of  some  species  are  narrower  than  when  the  plants  are 
growing  under  natural  conditions. 

The  generic  name  is  from  the  Greek  and  signifies  resembling  Pereskia. 

Key  to  Species. 

Stems,  ovary,  and  often  the  leaves  more  or  less  pubescent. 

Normal   leaves   long-acuminate,  narrow,  with  narrow  cuneate  bases I.  P.  relulina 

Normal   leaves  abruptly  pointed,  somewhat  cuneate  at  base 2.  P.  digiietii 

Stems,  ovary,  and  leaves  glabrous. 

Leaves,  at  least  some  of  them,  not  much  longer  than  broad. 

Fruit  without  leaves,  at  least  so  figured 3.  P.  opunlijeflorc. 

Fruit  with  leaves  subtending  the  areoles. 
Areoles  white,  with  few  glochids  or  none. 

Leaves  orbicular  or  nearly  so,  rounded  or  apiculatc 4.  P.  lolutidifolij 

Leaves,  at  least  the  upper  ones,  obovate  or  elliptic,  acute  at  both  ends 5.  P.  chapistle 

Areoles  dark,  filled  with  numerous  brown  glochids 6.  P.  porleri 

Leaves,  at  least  some  of  them,  twice  as  long  as  broad  or  longer. 

Leaves  spatulate 7.  P.  spalhHhiiit 

Leaves  elliptic  to  oblong,  or  obovate. 

Leaves  pale  green,  glaucous 8.  P.  pitit.iche 

Leaves  bright  green,  shining. 

Glochids  few,  yellow 9.   P.  aquosa 

Glochids  many,  brown 10.   P.  kellerm.uiii 

1.  Pereskiopsis  velutina  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:333.      1907. 

Stems  weak  and  spreading,  forming  compact  bushes  9  to  12  dm.  high  or  sometimes  higher: 
old  stems  with  cherry-brown  bark;  young  branches  green,  borne  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  old 
stem,  velvety-pubescent;  areoles  bearing  long  white  hairs  and  several  short  spines  and  some  glochids; 
leaves  elliptic  to  ovate-elliptic,  2  to  6  cm.  long  by  1.5  to  2.5  cm.  broad,  acuminate,  or  acute  at  both 
ends,  dull  green,  more  or  less  velvety-puberulent  on  both  surfaces,  when  very  young  brighter  green; 
flowers    sessile    on    the    second-year    branches;    ovary    obovoid    to    oblong,    pubescent;  bearing    large 


D.  H.  HfLL  LIBRARY 
North  Carolina  State  College 


26 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


leaves  and  areoles  similar  to  those  of  the  stem;  leaves  on  ovary  spreading  or  ascending  and  persisting 
after  the  flower  falls;  flower-bud  (above  the  ovar)')  2  to  3  cm.  long,  acute;  sepals  green  or  deep  red  tinged 
with  yellow;  petals  bright  yellow. 

Type  locality:  In  hedges  about  city  of  Queretaro, 
Mexico. 

Distributio}!:   Table-lancls  of  central  Mexico. 

This  plant  is  called  by  the  natives  nopaleta  and 
cola  de  diabio. 

Illustration:   Smiths.   Misc.  Coll.  50:  pi.  44. 

Figure  21  is  from  a  photograph  of  type  plant. 

2.  Pereskiopsis  diguetii  (Weber)   Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths. 

Misc.  Coll.  50:  332.     1907. 

Opuntia   diguelii    Weber.    Bull.    Mus.    Hist.    Nat.    Pans    4: 
166.     1898. 

Tall  shrub,  larger  than  the  preceding  species;  old  stems 
reddish;  branches  pubescent;  areoles  when  young  filled  with 
long,  white,  cobwebby  hairs,  when  old  large  and  filled  with 
short  black  wool ;  leaves  elliptic  to  obovate,  3  to  5  cm. 
long,  usually  abruptly  pomted,  more  or  less  cuneate  at  the 
base;  spines  usually  1,  rarely  as  many  as  4,  at  first  nearly 
black,  in  time  becoming  lighter,  sometimes  nearly  7  cm. 
long;  glochids  brownish,  not  very  abundant;  flowers  yellow; 
fruit  3  cm.  long,  red,  pubescent,  its  areoles  often  bearing 
spines  as  well  as  glochids;  seeds  white,  5  mm.  broad,  covered 
with  matted  hairs. 

Type  locality:   Near  Guadalajara,  Mexico. 

Distribution:   Central  Mexico. 

Common  in  hedges  near  Guadalajara  and  Oaxaca, 
Mexico.  According  to  W.  E.  Safford,  it  is  known  in 
Guadalajara  as  tasajillo  and  allilerillo. 

Figure  22  represents  a  leafy  branch  of  a  plant 
collected  by  W.  E.  Safford  in  Guadalajara,  Mexico,  in 
1907. 

3.  Pereskiopsis   opuntiaeflora    (De  CandoUe)    Britton    and 

Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  332.     1907. 

Peieikia  opHnlhiefloiut  De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:  -ty?.     1828. 
Opuntia  gohiana  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  654.      1898. 

Shrubby,  glabrous;  leaves  obovate,  mucronate,  often 
in  pairs;  spines,  when  present,  solitary,  elongated,  2  to  3 
times  as  long  as  the  leaves;  flowers  subterminal,  short- 
pedunculate;  petals  numerous,  ovate,  subacute,  reddish  yellow, 
arranged  in  two  series;  ovary  leafless,  bearing  areoles  filled 
with  glochids. 

Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Known  only  from  the  original  de- 
scription. 

This  description  is  drawn  from  De  CandoUe's 
original  description  and  illustration;  otherwise  nothing  is  known  of  the  plant. 

This  species,  as  illustrated  by  De  Candolle,  is  unlike  anything  we  know.  In  its  pedun- 
culate fruit  it  is  like  Pereskia,  but  its  leafless  ovary  and  its  areoles  filled  with  glochids  would 
exclude  it  from  that  genus.  In  a  general  way  the  illustration  looks  more  like  a  Pereskiopsis, 
and  we  suspect  that  the  delineation  is  incorrect  or  that  the  leaves  had  fallen  away  from  the 


. — Pereskiop: 


PERESKIOPSIS, 


27 


specimen  drawn. 

Cactus  opuntiaejlovus  Mocino  and  Sesse  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  178.  1837)  was  published 
as  a  synonym  of  Pereskia  opuutiae^lora. 

Illustrations:  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  137;  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  pi.  19, 
both  as  Pereskia  opu>itiaejlora. 

Figure  23  is  copied  from  the  second  illustration  above  cited. 

4.    Pereskiopsis  rotundifoiia   (De  Candolle)   Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:333.     1907. 

Peieskh   rotundifoiia  De   Candnlle,    Prodr.    3:475.     1828. 
OpiitUia  rotrindifoliii  Schumann,     Gesamtb.  Kaktecn  652.   IS^S. 

Stems  thick,  more  or  less  woody;  branches  slender,  glabrous;  leaves  nearly  orbicular,  mucronate; 
spines  elongated,  solitary;  flowers  3  cm.  broad,  borne  on  the  second-year  branches;  petals  reddish  yellow, 
broad,  with  mucronate  tips;  ovary  leafy;  fruit  obovoid,  red,  leafy. 


Fig.   22.— Pereikiops. 
diguetii.    XO.5 


Fig.  23. — Pereskiopsis  opuntiae- 
flora.    XO.5. 


Fig.  24. — Pereskiopsis 
rotundifoiia.     XO.5. 


Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distribution:   Known  only  from  the  original  description  and,  apparently,  from  Oaxaca. 

Cactus  frutesceiis  Mocifio  and  Sesse  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  178.  1837)  and  Cactus 
rotundifoiia  Mocifio  and  Sesse  (De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:  475.  1828)  were  given  as  synonyms 
of  Pereskia  rotundifoiia,  but  were  never  published. 

Illustrations:  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  pi.  20,  as  Pereskia  rotundifoiia:  Schu- 
mann, Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  99,  as  Opuntia  rotundifoiia. 

Figure  24  is  copied  from  the  first  illustration  above  cited;  figure  25  is  from  a  photo- 
graph taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  at  Oaxaca,  Mexico,  in  1906. 

5.    Pereskiopsis  chapistle   (Weber)   Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.    Misc.  Coll.  50:331.     1907. 
Opuntta  chapiitle  Weher  in  Gosselin,   Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  10:  388.      1904. 
A  large,  branching  shrub,  sometimes  3  to  4  meters  high,  the  branches  widely  spreading,  glabrous; 
spines  single,  white,  long  (6  cm.  long),  very  stout;  leaves  fleshy,  somewhat  persistent,  obovate  to  elliptic, 
sometimes  nearly  orbicular,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  glabrous;  flowers  yellow;  fruit  red. 

Type  locality:  In  Oaxaca. 

Distribution:    Oaxaca  and  perhaps  Morelos,  Mexico. 

Illustrations :  Bull.  Soc.  Nat.  Acclim.  France  52:  f.  10,  as  Opuntia  chapistle.  Smiths.  Misc. 
Coll.  50:  pi.  43. 

Plate  III,  figure  2,  represents  a  leafy  branch  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Cuerna- 
vaca,  Mexico,  in  1906. 


28 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


-Pereskiopsis,  appa 


th  other  cacti  in  the  hackpround. 


6.    Pereskiopsis  porteri  (Brandegee)   Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  332.     1907. 

Opunlia  rotiDidijulia  Brandegee,  Zoe  2:  21.     1891.     Not  Peiesihi  roliindijolia  De  Candolle,  1828. 

Opiinlia  porteti  Brandegee  in  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  899.     1898. 

Opiinlia  btandegeei  Schumann,   Gesamtb.   Kakteen  65.^.      1898. 

Perefiwpsis  brandefieei  Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  331.     190". 

Stems  stout,  woody,  branching,  6  to  12  dm.  high,  3  cm.  in  diameter,  the  old  areoles  bearing  3  to 
8  stout  spines  3  to  5  cm.  long,  but  on  the  trunk  often  15  to  20  spines  from  an  areole;  first  and  second 
year  branches  usually  short,  spineless,  or  with  1  or  2  brown  spines,  those  of  the  first  year  green,  the 
second-year  brownish;  areoles  bearing  numerous  small,  brown  glochids;  leaves 
sessile,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  obovate,  acute,  fleshy,  in  greenhouse  specimens 
sometimes  much  narrower;  flowers  about  4  cm.  in  diameter;  sepals  few, 
spatulate,  short;  petals  few,  yellow,  broad,  entire;  fruit  joint-like,  oblong,  4  to  5 
cm.  long,  orange-colored,  with  large  areoles  bearing  brown  glochids ;  seeds  1  or 
few,  covered  with  white  deciduous  hairs. 

Type  locality:   In  Sinaloa,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Common  in  the  Cape  region  of  Lower  California 
and  in  the  State  of  Sinaloa,  Mexico. 

Figure  26  shows  a  leafy  twig  of  a  plant  sent  in  1904  from  the 
Missouri  Botanical  Garden  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  as 
Opuntia  brandegeei,  which  had  been  received  by  the  Missouri  Botani- 
cal Garden  from  Mrs.  Katharine  Brandegee  in  1901. 


7.    Pereskiopsis   spathulata    (Otto)    Britton 
50:333.     1907. 


and    Rose,    Smiths.    Misc.    Coll. 


Pereskia  spalhuUta  Otto  in  Pfciffer,  Enum.  Cact.  176.     1837. 
Opuntia  spathulata  Weber,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  4:  165. 


1898. 


Fig.  26.— Pereski 
porteri.    XO.66. 


Branching  shrub,  1  to  2  meters  high;  branches  few,  glaucescent,  deflexed;  leaves  spatulate,  thick, 
green,  2.5  to  5  cm.  long;  areoles  distant,  woolly,  hairy  when  young;  spines  1  or  2,  rigid,  white  below, 
2.5  cm.  long;  glochids  brown,  borne  in  the  upper  part  of  the  areoles;  flowers  red;  seeds  white. 


PERESKIOPSIS. 


29 


Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distributio)!:    Probably  southern  Mexico,  but  no  definite  locality  is  known. 

There  is  some  confusion  in  the  literature  of  this  species;  Schumann  describes  it  as 
pubescent,  while  in  the  original  description  nothing  is  said  about  pubescence;  this  error 
is  probably  due  to  a  misidentification,  for  Dr.  Rose  found  in  the  Museum  of  Paris  two 
specimens  collected  by  Diguet  at  Guadalajara,  Mexico,  which  were  labeled  Opunt'ta 
spathtilata,  and  which  have  pubescent  branches  and  leaves;  these  are  undoubtedly  O.  diguet'i'i. 

Pereskia  crasskaulis  Zuccarini  (PfeifTer,  Enum.  Cact.  176.  1837)  was  never  published, 
simply  being  given  as  a  synonym  of  P.  spathnlata. 

Illustration:  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  488,  f.  22,  No.  1,  as  Pereskia  spathulata. 

8.    Pereskiopsis  pititache   (Karwinsky)   Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  332.     1907. 


Pereskia  pititache  Karwinsky  in  PfeifTer,  Enu 
Pereskia  calandriniaefolia  Link  and   Otto  in  J 

to  Schumann.) 
Optinlia  pititache   Weber,    Bull.   Mus.   Hist.   Nat.  Pans  4 


Cact.  176.     1837. 

n-Dyck,    Cact.    Hort.    Dyck. 


1850.      (According 


Stems  rather  low  and  somewhat  branching;  bark  light  brownish  and  flaking  off;  areoles  on  main 
trunk  each  bearing  1  to  4  slender  acicular  spines  and  a  small  cluster  of  yellowish  glochids ;  branches, 
even  when  several  years  old,  bearing  a  single  long,  acicular  spine  from  an  areole  and  no  glochids;  young 
and  growing  branches  rather  slender  and  green,  their  areoles  small,  black  in  the  center,  with  long,  white 
hairs  from  their  margins  and  no  spines;  leaves  obovate  or  oblong-obovate,  4  cm.  long  or  less,  pale  green, 
thin,  acute  or  bluntish  at  the  apex,  narrowed  at  the  base. 

Type  locality:   In  Mexico. 

Distribution:    Uncertain,  but  reported  from  southern  Mexico. 

In  the  original  description  this  species  is  said  to  have  a  very  spiny,  erect  woody  trunk, 
the  branches  spreading  nearly  horizontally,  the  spines  unequal,  3  to  6,  25  to  37  mm.  long, 
the  leaves  fleshy,  green,  lanceolate  to  ovate,  37  mm.  long,  16  mm.  broad.  It  was  named  by 
Baron  Wilhelm  von  Karwinsky  and  probably  collected  by  him  in  Mexico,  but  no  definite 
locality  was  given;  Weber  states  it  is  from  Tehuantepec,  while  Schumann  gives  Tehuacan 
on  a  statement  of  Weber. 

Pereskia  calandriniaefolia  we  have  referred  here,  follow- 
ing Schumann,  but  the  original  description  is  somewhat  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  P.  pititache.  the  leaves  being  described 
as  spatulate  to  lanceolate,  strongly  narrowed  below,  7.5  cm. 
long. 

Our  description  is  mostly  drawn  from  specimens  grow- 
ing in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  obtained  from  M. 
Simon,  of  St.  Ouen,  Paris,  in  1901. 

Illustrations:  Abh.  Bayer,  Akad.  Wiss.  Munchen  2:  pi.  1, 
sec.  6,  f.  1,  2;  pi.  2,  f.  9,  both  as  Pereskia  pititache.  Deutsche 
Gart  Zeit.  8:  33,  as  Pereskia  calandriniaefolia. 

Plate  III,  figure  3,  represents  a  leafy  shoot  of  a  plant  sent 
by  M.  Simon,  of  St.  Ouen,  Paris,  France,  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  in  1901. 

9.    Pereskiopsis  aquosa    (Weber)    Britton   and   Rose,    Smiths.    Misc. 
Coll.  50:331.     1907. 

Opuntia  aquosa  Weber,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  4:  165.  1898. 
Shrub,  with  glabrous,  glaucous,  green  branches,  the  young  shoots 
with  long  white  hairs  at  the  areoles;  leaves  bright  green,  nearly 
elliptic,  acute,  about  twice  as  long  as  wide,  narrowed  at  the  base, 
glabrous;  spines  usually  solitary,  standing  at  right  angles  to  the  stem, 
white;   glochids   few,   yellow;   flowers  yellow;   outer  petals   blotched 

with  red;  fruit  pear-shaped,  4  to  5  cm.  long,  2  to  2.5  cm.  in  diameter,  p.^.  27.-Pereskiopsis  aquosa. 

yellowish  green.  Xo  66 


30  THE  CACTACEAE. 

Type  loculity:   Guadalajara,  Mexico. 

Distribution:    In  hedges  about  Guadalajara,  Mexico. 

The  fruit,  called  in  Mexico  tuna  de  agua  and  tasajilU),  is  used  in  making  a  cooling 
drink  and  for  preserves. 

Opuntui  spathiilata  acjuosa  (Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  4:  165.  1898)  was  given  as  a 
synonym  of  this  species,  but  was  never  published. 

Illustration:   Salford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1908:  pi.  10,  f.  2 

Figure  27  represents  a  leafy  shoot  of  the  plant  collected  by  W.  E.  Safford  near  Guadala- 
jara, Mexico,  in  1907. 

10.  Pereskiopsis  kellermanii  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:332.     1907. 

Stem  glabrous,  herbaceous,  weak,  and  clambering  over  shrubs  to  a  length  of  4  to  5  meters,  about 
2  cm.  in  diameter;  second-year  branches  usually  at  right  angles  to  main  stem,  with  cherry-red  bark; 
old  stem  bearing  several  slender,  acicular  brown  spines,  sometimes  only  1,  sometimes  wanting, 
.ind  numerous  brown  glochids;  young  branches  green,  fleshy,  their  areoles  circular,  white,  Hlled  with 
long  white  hairs,  brown  glochids,  and  often  with  several  acicular 
brown  spines;  spines  on  wild  plants  often  stout,  usually  solitary,  /\ 

nearly  black,  2  to  3  cm.  long;  leaves  various,  shining  green,  glabrous,  \  '\ 

thickish,    elliptic    and    two   or    three    times    as    long    as    wide,    or        /  \         '       ^       /^ 

suborbicular,  acute  at  the  apex,  narrowed  at  the  base,   5  cm.   long        I  ]        [        \       \ 

or  less,  2  to  2.5  cm.  broad;  flowers  not  known;  fruit  red,  glabrous,         \  '  \  \ 

leafy,    3   to  6  cm.    long,   bearing   large   areoles   filled  with   brown  \       ,  \    /  \.     /' 

glochids;  seeds  covered  with  matted  hairs.  \/  \/ 

Figs.  28,  29,  and  30.— Pereskiopsis  keller- 

Type  locality:   Trapichite,  Guatemala.  "i'>"".  showing  three  leaf  forms.   N  o.'i. 

Distribution:   Guatemala. 

Figures  28,  29,  and  30  are  copied  from  sketches  of  the  leaf-forms  of  the  type  plant, 
made  by  W.  A.  Kellerman  in  Guatemala  in  1908. 

11.  Pereskiopsis  scandens  sp.  nov.    (Appendix  following  page  226). 

2.  PTEROCACTUS  Schumann,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  7:6.  1897. 
Stems  low,  more  or  less  branched  above,  cylindric,  from  tuber-like  and  often  greatly  enlarged  roots; 
leaves  minute,  caducous;  spines  weak,  several  or  many  at  each  areole;  glochids  small,  caducous  as  in 
Opnnlia;  flower  terminal,  regular,  without  tube;  perianth-segments  several,  erect;  filaments  and  pistil 
shorter  than  the  petals;  ovary  nearly  turgid,  bearing  numerous  small  clusters  of  spines;  fruit  dry,  cap- 
sular, dehiscent;  seeds  winged,  white;  embryo  curved. 

Type  species:    Pterocactus  kuntzei  Schumann. 

Four  species  have  already  been  described,  but  three  of  these  we  have  combined  and 
the  fourth  is  referred  to  Opuntia.  Three  additional  species,  however,  are  here  described. 
The  generic  name  refers  to  the  winged  seeds. 

This  is  a  remarkable  genus,  and  it  is  surprising  that  it  remained  unrecognized  so  long, 
for  one  of  its  species  was  known  as  long  ago  as  1837;  the  fruit  and  seeds,  however,  seem  not 
to  have  been  known  until  about  1897.  In  habit  the  plants  are  nearest  some  of  the  anom- 
alous species  of  Opuntia.  having  large  roots  and  short,  weak  stems  like  Opuntia  chaffeyi. 
of  Mexico;  the  seeds,  however,  differ,  not  only  from  those  of  Opuntia,  but  from  those  of 
all  other  cactus  genera,  in  being  winged.  The  fruit,  according  to  Schumann,  although  we 
have  not  been  able  to  confirm  his  observation  definitely,  is  a  capsule  with  an  operculum. 
Another  peculiarity  is  that  the  fruit  is  borne  in  the  end  of  the  stem  or  branch. 

While  this  genus  has  good  characters,  it  is  no  more  distinct  than  many  others  and  does 
not  deserve  the  relative  importance  given  to  it  by  T.  von  Post  and  Otto  Kuntze  in  Lexicon 
Generum  Phanerogamarum,  who  treat  it  as  one  of  the  only  three  cactus  genera  to  be 
conserved,  in  their  view. 


PTEROCACTUS.  31 

Key  to  Species. 

Seeds  narrowly  winged ;  spines  up  to  2  cm.  long 1 .  P.  bickenii 

Seeds  broadly  winged;  spines  3  to  10  mm.  long. 

Joints  strongly    tuberculate 2.  P.  fischeri 

Joints  scarcely  tuberculate. 

Ovary  densely  covered  with  weak  spines;  wing  of  seed   1   mm.  wide 3.  P.  pumitus 

Ovary  loosely  covered  with  stiff  spines;  wing  of  seed  2  mm.  wide 4.  P.  tuherosus 


hickeni 
Pterocactus  hickenii 


-Pterocactus  fischeri.    Xl.12.   Photograph 
by  Paul  G.  Russell. 


sp.  nov. 

Rootstocks  moniliform,  consisting  of  at  least  4  joints  widely  separated;  joints  above  ground  2 
or  3,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  almost  hidden  by  the  spines;  spines  from  each  areola  numerous,  slender,  yellow 
above,  brown  at  base;  glochids  numerous;  fruit  and  flower  not  known;  seeds  thick,  5  mm.  in  diameter, 
with  narrow  lateral  wing. 

Collected  by  Cristobal  M.  Hicken 
(No.  3284)  January  10,  1914,  near  Como- 
doro  Rivadavia,  southeastern  Chubut, 
Argentina. 

Figures  31  and  32  represent  a  plant 
and  a  seed  from  the  specimen  above  cited. 

2.    Pterocactus  fischeri  sp.  nov. 

Stems  low,  1  dm.  high  or  less;  spreading  or  erect,  cylindric,  1.3  cm.  in  diameter,  tuberculate; 
leaves  minute,  acute;  tubercles  about  as  long  as  broad,  arranged  in  spiral  ridges  somewhat  resembling 
those  of  Opuntta  u-hipplei;  spines  numerous,  the  radials  12  or  more,  white,  setaceous,  6  mm.  long, 
spreading,    centrals    usually    4,    1    to    1.5    cm.  long,    brownish,    the    tips    and    bases    often    yellowish; 


34 

35                            36 

s.  34,  35,  36.- 

—Seeds  of  three  species  of  Pterocactus 

Natural  size. 

32 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


ijlochids  numerous,  yellowish,  3  to  4  mm.  long;  flowers,  in  only  specimen  seen,  terminal,  almost  con- 
tinuous with  the  stem;  ovary  tuberculate  and  spiny  like  the  stem,  deeply  umbilicate;  seed  one,  large, 
flat-winged. 

Collected   by   Walter   Fischer   in    1914   in  the  Province  of  Rio  Negro,  Argentina,  and 
given  to  Dr.  Rose  during  his  visit  to  Argentina  in  1915  by  Professor  Cristobal  M.  Hicken. 

While  this  species  resembles  some  of  the 
species  of  Cyliudropuntid  of  the  United  States, 
the  spines  are  not  sheathed. 

Figure  33  is  from  a  photograph  of  the 
specimen  above  cited;  figure  34  shows  a  seed 
of  the  same  specimen. 

3.  Pterocactus  pumilus  sp.  nov. 

Plants  low,  usually  prostrate  or  ascending;  joints 
cylindric,  1  cm.  in  diameter,  covered  with  weak 
appressed  spines;  areoles  very  woolly;  flower  termi- 
nal; ovary  sunk  in  the  apex  of  the  terminal  joint, 
somewhat  umbilicate;  ovules  several;  seed  flattened, 
7  mm.  in  diameter,  very  thin. 

Collected  by  Cristobal  M.  Hicken  (No. 
3286),  January  8,  1914,  at  Puerto  Piramides, 
Chubut,  Argentina. 

Figure  35  shows  a  seed  of  above  speci- 
men. 

4.  Pterocactus  tuberosus  (Pfeiffer). 

Opiititia  tuberosa  Pfeiffer,  Enum.   Cact.    1-46.      1837. 

Opunlia    tuberosa    albhpina    Salm-Dyck    in    Forsier. 
Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2,  911.    1885. 

Pterocactus    kuntzei    Schumann,    Monatsschr.      Kak- 
teenk.  7:  6.     1897. 

Pterocactus  kurlzei  Schumann   in   Engler  and   Prantl. 
Pflanzenfam.  Nachtr.  259.     1897. 

Pterocactus  decipiens  Giirke,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk. 
17:  147.  1907. 
Roots  tuber-like,  single  or  in  clusters,  usually 
small  but  sometimes  large  and  thick,  up  to  12  cm. 
long  by  8  cm.  in  diameter,  deep-seated,  giving  o&. 
several  erect  stems,  these  branching  at  surface  of  the 
ground;  terminal  branches  purplish,  turgid,  3  to  40 
cm.  long,  1  cm.  in  diameter,  more  or  less  clavate; 
areoles  numerous,  small,  bearing  numerous  small 
white  appressed  spines;  flowers  terminal,  2  to  3 
cm.  long;  petals  long,  lanceolate,  apiculate,  yellow; 
ovary  with  numerous  areoles  bearing  long  bristles; 
ovules  numerous;  fruit  dry;  seeds  large,  flat,  winged, 
10  to  12  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:   Near  Mendoza,  Argentina. 

Distribution:  Western  provinces  of  Argen-  Fig.  37.— Ptem 
tina,  chiefly  in  the  mountains. 

We  have  not  seen  the  type  of  P.  kuntzei. 
which   is   doubtless   at   Berlin,   but  we  have   examined  cotypes  in  the  Kurtz  Herbarium  at 
Cordoba,  Argentina,  and  at  New  York. 

Opuntia  tuberosa.  described  from  Mendoza  as  long  ago  as  1837,  has  long  been  a  puzzle 
to  botanists,  who  have  tried  to  associate  it  with  various  opuntias.  Dr.  Rose,  who  visited 
Mendoza  in  1915,  found  a  tuberous-rooted  cactus  in  the  mountains  above  that  city,  which 
we    are    convinced    is    the    plant    described    by  Pfeiffer.     There  is  no  doubt,  on  the  other 


us  tuberosus.   Natural  size.   Photograph 
by  Paul  G.  Russell. 


hand,  that  it  is  Pterocactus  kiailzci.  from  the  same  rei^ion,  which  was  described  as  new  by 
Schumann  in  1897. 

Opiaitia  alp'nia  GiUies  (Pieiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  146.  1837)  was  not  pubhshed,  but  was 
given  as  a  synonym  of  Opuutia  tuberosa.  Schumann  referred  both  names  to  Optintia 
platyacantha. 

Illustrations:  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  7:7;  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  107;  Haage 
and  Schmidt,  Cat.  Gen.  230,  1908;  De  Laet,  Cat.  Gen.  f.  74;  all  as  Pterocactus  kuntzd;  Blii- 
hende  Kakteen  3:  pi.  140,  as  P.  decipiens. 

Figure  36  shows  a  seed  of  a  plant,  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Mendoza,  Argentina, 
in  1915;  figure  37  is  from  a  photograph  of  same  plant;  figure  38  is  from  a  photograph 
taken  by  Dr.  Carlos  Spegazzini. 


\  !«#&#■* 


Fig.  38. — Pterocactus  tuberosus. 
3.    NOPALEA  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.   1849.  63.     1850. 

Much  branched  cacti  with  definite  cylindric  trunks ;  roots  so  far  as  known  fibrous ;  branches  or  joints 
flattened,  fleshy,  often  narrow;  glochids  usually  less  abundant  than  in  Opuutia;  spines  solitary  or  in 
clusters  at  the  areoles,  sheathless;  leaves  small,  subterete,  soon  deciduous;  areoles  bearing  white  wool, 
glochids,  and  often  spines;  flowers  originating  in  the  areoles  usually  at  or  near  the  edges  of  the  joints; 
sepals  ovate,  erect;  petals  red  or  pinkish,  erect,  closely  appressed  against  the  numerous  stamens  and  the 
style;  filaments  and  style  slender,  much  longer  than  the  petals;  ovary  more  or  less  tuberculate,  naked 
or  spiny,  with  a  very  deep  umbilicus;  fruit  a  juicy  berry,  red,  edible,  usually  spineless;  seeds  numerous, 
flat,  covered  by  a  hard  bony  aril. 

Nopalea  is  closely  related  to  Opuutia.  with  which  it  is  sometimes  united;  the  erect 
petals  and  elongated  filaments  and  style  are  constant  in  Nopalea.  however. 

Three  species  were  included  by  Salm-Dyck  in  this  genus  when  it  was  described,  of 
which  Opuutia  cocheuillijera  Linnaeus  was  the  first  and  is  therefore  considered  the  type. 

Karl  Schumann  described  five  species  in  his  monograph,  but  since  then  two  species, 
N.  guatewaleusis  and  N.  lutea.  have  been  described  by  Dr.  Rose,  and  one,  N.  iuaperta, 
by  Dr.  Grifhths.  N.  u/ouilifor/uis  (Linnaeus)  Schumann,  based  on  plate  198  of  Plumier,  is 
Opuutia  niouilijormis  (Linnaeus)  Steudel. 

The  species  are  natives  of  Mexico  and  Guatemala,  and  have  been  accredited  to  Cuba, 
although  none  has  recently  been  observed  wild  on  that  island.     Some  of  them  are  widely 


34  THE  CACTACEAE. 

cultivated  and  may  be  found  throughout  the  warmer  parts  of  the  world.    Two  are  of  some 
economic  importance  and  two  or  three  are  grown  as  ornamentals. 

The  name  Nopaleii  is  doubtless  from  nopal,  the  common  name  of  Mexicans  for  certain 
opuntias  and  nopaleas. 

Key  to  Species 

Spineless,  or  rarely  a  few  short  spines  on  old  joints 1.    N.  cochenilUjera 

Joints  spiny  (spines  few  in  N.  auheri). 

Spines,  at  least  those  of  young  joints,  very  slender,  acicular,  several  at  each  areole. 

Spines   white 2.    N.  guatemalemis 

Spines  yellow  or  becoming  brown. 

Joints  obovate  to  oblong,  10  to  22  cm.  long,  5  to  10  cm.  wide 3.    N.  lulea 

Joints  linear-oblong  to  oblong-lanceolate,  6  to  12  cm.  long,  2  to  3  cm.  wide iu-K.  gaumeri 

Spines  stouter,  subulate. 

Areoles  with   1   or  2  spines,  or  spineless;  joints  glaucous A.    N.  auheri 

Areoles  with  2  to  4  spines;  joints  green. 

Joints  linear  or  linear-oblong,  4  to  7  times  as  long  as  wide 5.    N.  dejecta 

Joints  oblong  or  oblong-obovate,  2  to  4  times  as  long  as  wide. 

Spines   2   to  4 ;   joints  not   tuberculate 6.    N.  iarwiriskiana 

Spmes  4  to   12 ;   joints   strongly   tuberculate 7.    N.  inaperlj 

I.    Nopalea  cochenillifera   (Linnaeus)   Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  64.     1850. 
CjcIiis  cocheiiillifer  Linnaeus,  Sp.   PI.   468.      1753. 
OpiintLi  coi-hiiietifera  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  6.     1768. 
Cacniy   nup.,1  Thierry,  Diet.  Sci.  Nat.  6:   103.      1817. 
Cactus    splendidiii   Thierry,    Diet.   Sci.   Nat.   6:    103.     1817. 
Cactus  campechianui  Thierry,  Diet.  Sci.  Nat.  6:   103.     1817. 
Nopalea  coccifera  Lemaire,  Cactees  89.      1868. 
Often  tali  plants,   3   to  4  meters  high,  with  trunks  up  to  2  dm.  thick;  branches  of  ascending  or 
spreading  oblong  joints,   sometimes   5   dm.   long;   green,    bright   green   at    first;   spines   none   or    rarely 
minute   ones   develop   on   the   older   joints;   glochids  numerous,  caducous;  leaves  small,  awl-shaped,  soon 
deciduous;  flowers  appearing  from  the  tops  of  the  joints,  usually  in  great  abundance;  flower,  from  base 
of  ovary  to  tip  of  style,   5.5   cm.   long,  ovary  nearly  globular,   2  cm.   long,  with  low  diamond-shaped 
tubercles,   its  areoles  bearing  many  glochids;  sepals  broadly  ovate,  acute,  scarlet;  petals  a  little  longer 
than   the  sepals,   otherwise   similar,   persistent;   stamens  pinkish,  exserted  1  to  1.5  cm.  beyond  the  petals; 
stigma-lobes  6  or  7,  greenish,  exserted  beyond  the  stamens;  style  swollen  just  above  its  base  into  a  broad 
disk;    fruit   red,    about    5    cm.    long,    rarely   maturing  in  greenhouse  plants;  seeds  about   5   mm.   long 
and  3  mm.  wide. 

Type  locality:   Jamaica  and  tropical  America. 

Distribution:  Cultivated  in  the  West  Indies  and  tropical  America;  its  original  habitat 
unknown. 

OpHutia  magni\olia  Noronha  (Verhandl,  Batav.  Genootsch.  5':  22.  1790),  published 
without  description,  is  referred  to  this  species  by  Schumann  and  others.  The  name 
Opuntia  mexicatia,  although  it  has  been  used  for  more  than  one  species,  first  appeared  in 
Pfeif¥er's  Enumeratio  (p.  150.  1837)  as  a  synonym  oi  O.  cochenillifera.  Cactus  subinerniis 
Link  (Steudel,  Nom.  ed.  2.  1:  246.  1840)  is  given  as  a  synonym  of  Opuntia  cochenillifera. 
The  specific  name  of  this  plant  was  given  because  it  is  one  of  the  species  of  cactus  from 
which  cochineal  was  obtained.  Cochineal  was  long  supposed  to  be  a  vegetable  product; 
it  was  not  until  1703  that,  by  the  aid  of  the  microscope,  it  was  definitely  determined  to  be 
of  insect  origin.  The  cochineal  industry  is  of  prehistoric  origin.  The  Spaniards  found  it  well 
established  when  they  conquered  Mexico  in  1518,  and  began  at  once  to  export  the  product. 
As  early  as  1523  Cortez  was  ordered  to  obtain  and  send  to  Spain  as  much  as  he  possibly 
could,  while  during  the  early  colonial  days  it  was  one  of  the  chief  articles  of  tribute  to  the 
crown.  From  Mexico  and  Peru  the  industry  was  taken  to  southern  Spain,  India,  Algiers, 
South  Africa,  New  Granada  (Colombia),  Jamaica,  and  the  Canary  Islands.  The  industry 
grew  rapidly  and  was  very  profitable.  The  greatest  source  of  the  cochineal  was  probably  the 
Canary  Islands.  In  about  the  year  1868  more  than  6,000,000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,000,000, 
were  exported  from  these  islands  alone,  of  which  the  largest  part  was  sent  to  England. 

The  cochineal  insects  were  placed  on  the  joints  or  branches  of  the  cactus  plants,  where 
they  rapidly  multiplied  and  in  about  four  months  were  collected  by  brushing  them  off  into 
baskets  or  bags.  Then,  after  being  dried  in  various  ways,  they  became  the  cochineal  of 
commerce.     Two  or  three  such  collections  were  made  each  year. 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


Upper  part  of  flowering  joint  of  Nopalea  cocheiiillifeui 
Upper  part  of  flowering  joint  of  NopMeu  jiiberi. 

Ail  tliree-fourtlis 


Fruit  of  Nopjlia  ,iuhei;. 
Flowering  joint  of  Nopalej  dejecta 


NOPALIiA. 


35 


The  cactuses  upon  which  the  cochineal  was  raised  were  often  grown  in  large  phmta- 
tions  called  nopalries,  sometimes  containing  50,000  plants  in  rows  about  4  feet  apart. 

Since  the  introduction  of  the  aniline  dyes,  the  cochineal  industry  has  almost  disappeared. 
The  cochineal  colors,  while  brilliant  and  attractive,  are  not  very  permanent. 

According  to  J.  J.  Johnson,  this  plant  was  introduced  into  cultivation  in  England,  m 
1688;  but  according  to  Ray  it  was  growing  in  Chelsea  before  that  time. 

Illustrations:  Hernandez,  Nov.  PI.  Hist.  78  and  479.  f.  1.  1651,  as  Nopalnochetzli; 
Andrews,  Bot.  Rep.  8:  pi.  533;  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  54:  pi.  2741,  2742;  Descourtilz,  Fl. 
Pict.  Antilles  7:  pi.  516,  all  as  Cactus  cocheriillijer.  Cycl.  Amer.  Hort.  Bailey  1:  205. 
f.  308;  Card.  Chron.  III.  34:92.  f.  4l;Pfeiffer  and  Otto,  Abbild.  Beschr.  Cact.  1:  pi.  24, 
all  as  Opuntia  cochenillijera;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2  f.  3,  as  Opuntia  coccifera;  Dillenius, 
Hort.  Elth.  pi.  297,  as  tuna,  etc.;  Agr.  Gaz.  25:  pis.  opp.  p.  884;  Amer.  Garden  II:  457; 
Martius,  FI.  Bras.  4":  pi.  60.  Schumann  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  109,  B.  Loudon,  Encycl.  PI.  ed. 
1  and  3.  4l2  L  6888,  as  Cactus  cocheiiHl/jer:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  8:  pi.  48  as  spineless 
opuntia;  Knorr,  Thesaurus  pi.  o,  1. 

Plate  IV,  figure  i,  shows  a  plant  which  flowered  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  in 
1912. 
2.  Nopalea  guatemalensis  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  330.    1907. 

Tree-like,  5  to  7  meters  high,  branched,  sometimes  nearly  to  the  base;  joints  bluish  green,  ovate 
to  oblong,  15  to  20  cm.  long;  areoles  numerous,  filled  with  short  white  wool;  spines  5  to  8,  unequal, 
nearly  or  quite  porrect,  white  or  sometimes  rose-colored,  the  longest  2.5  to  3  cm.  long;  leaves  small, 
linear,  reflexed ;  flower,  including  ovary,  5  to  6  cm.  long;  sepals  ovate,  thickened;  petals  red;  fruit 
4  to  5  cm.  long,  clavate,  red,  more  or  less  tuberculate,  deeply  umbilicate,  without  prominent  glochids; 
seeds  irregular,  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:    El  Rancho,  Guatemala. 

Distribution:    Arid  valleys  of  Guatemala. 

Illustrations:  Safford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1908:  f.  13,  14;  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50: 
pi.  41,  42. 

Figure  39  illustrates  joints  of  a  plant  obtained  from  Frank  Weinberg  in  1910. 


Fig.  39.— Nopalea  guatemalensis.     X0.-4.  Fig.  -iO.— Nopalea  lutea.     XO.4. 

3.  Nopalea  lutea  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  405.    1909. 

More  or  less  arborescent,  5  meters  high  or  less,  with  a  short,  definite  trunk  and  several  large, 
lateral,  more  or  less  spreading  branches;  joints  obovate  to  elliptic  or  oblong,  10  to  22  cm.  long,  pale 
green,  slightly  glaucous;  areoles  about  2  cm.  apart,  large,  filled  with  short  brown  wool;  spines  weak, 
yellow,    acicular   or   bristle-like,    the    longest    4    cm.   long;  flowers  5  cm.  long;  petals  red,  2  cm.  long; 


36 


THE  CACTACEAE. 

filled   with  yellow  bristles;  fruit  red,  4  cm.  long;  seeds  4  to 


ovary   with   numerous   prominent    areol 
5  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:   Near  El  Runcho,  Guatemala. 

Distribution:   Guatemala,  Honduras,  and  Nicaragua. 

This   species,   although   not   discovered   until    1907,    is    very   common,    extending    from 
altitude  .lOO  meters  at  Ei  Rancho  to  altitude   1,100  meters  near  A^uas  Clalientes.     Accord- 


FiG.  41. — Nopalea  dejecta, 
ing  to  Mr.  Charles  C.  Deam,  who  has  explored  extensively  in  Guatemala,  the  plant  when 
growing  on  river  sand-bars  is  low,  but  in  rich  soil  is  tall. 

Our  reference  of  this  species  to  Nicaragua  is  based  on  a  specimen  collected  by  A.  S. 
Oersted  in  1845-1848  between  Granada  and  Tipitapa.  The  joints  of  this,  however,  are  nearly 
orbicular  or  a  little  longer  than  broad,  with  numerous  brown  spines  and  glochids.  More 
material  may  show  that  this  specimen  should  be  referred  elsewhere. 

lllustratuni:    Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  pi.  58. 

Figure  4()  shows  a  joint  of  a  plant  from  Guatemala,  received  from  F.  Eichlam  in  1911. 


NOPALEA. 


37 


ia.  Nopalea  gaumeri  sp.  nov.    (See  Appendix,  p.  216.) 

4.     Nopalea  auberi  (PfeifFer)  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hon.  Dyck.  1849.64.    1 850. 
Opuntia  auberi  Pfeiffer,  Allg.  Gartenz.    8:  282.      1840. 
Often   8  to    10   meters  high,   with   a  cyhndric,    jointed    trunk,    never   very   spiny,    but   the   areoles 
bearing  tufts   of  brown   glochids;   branches   often    at   right   angles   to   the  stem;   joints   narrow,    thick, 

3  dm.  long,  bluish  green  and  glaucous;  areoles  circular,  about  2  mm.  broad,  bearing  short  white  wool 
and  later  a  tuft  of  brown  glochids;  spines,  when  present,  1  or  2,  subulate,  the  upper  one  about  twice 
as  long  as  the  other,  white  or  nearly  so,  with  brownish  tips,  the  longest  one  2  to  3  cm.  long;  flowers 
from  base  of  ovary  to  tip  of  style  about  9  cm.  long;  petals  erect,  closely  embracing  the  stamens, 
rose-pink,  ovate-lanceolate,  acuminate,  2  to  3.5  cm.  long;  filaments  12  to  15  mm.  longer  than  the  petals, 
white  below,  but  the  exposed  parts  pinkish;  anthers  dehiscing  before  maturing  of  stigma;  style  stout, 
light  pink  with  a  large,  white,  circular  disk  just  above  the  constricted  base;  stigma-lolses  green;  ovary 

4  cm.  long,  with  low  but  very  distinct  tubercles  and  a  deep  umbiHcus,  its  areoles  bearing  many  brown 
glochids,  these  sometimes  10  mm.   long. 


Fig.  42. — Nopalea 
dejecta.     XO.33. 


Fig.  43. — Nopalea  karwinskiana 
X0.5. 


Fig.  44. — Nopalea  inaperta 
X0.5. 


Type  locality:   Erroneously  cited  as  Cuba.  Distribution:   Central  and  southern  Mexico. 
liluitration:    Addisonia  1:  pi.  10. 

o  Nopalea  is  known  from  Cuba  we  have  been  unable  to  account  for  this  ref- 


Opuntia  auiieri  -Wis  described  as  from  Cuba,  but  as 
erence.    The  following  incidents  may  explain  it: 

L.  Pfeiffer  described  the  plant  in  1840  just  after  his  return  fro 
visited  the  Botanical  Garden,  then  in  charge  of  Pedro  Auber.  for  whom 
Pfeiffer  made  this  trip  especially  to  gather  cacti,  he  saw  only  one  speci 
plant  was  obtained  from  the  Botanical  Garden  at  Havana,  perhaps  with 


itnougn 

horriiJa.      The   probabilities,    therefore,    arc   that   this 
from  Auber  that  it  was  Cuban. 


Plate  IV,  figure  2,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  by  W.  E.  Safford  at 
Guadalajara,  Mexico,  in  1907;  figure  3  shows  young  fruit  of  the  same  plant;  plate  v  is  from 
a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  near  Mitla,  Mexico,  in  1906. 
5.  Nopalea  dejecta  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.    1849.  64.    1850. 

Opuntia  dejecta  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  361.     1834. 

Nopalea  anguuijrnns  Lindberg,  Act.  Soc.  Sc.  Fenn.  10:  123.  18^1. 
Plant  1  to  2  m.  high,  with  a  definite  trunk,  very  spiny,  the  old  areoles  often  bearing  6  or  8  spines; 
joints  narrow,  10  to  15  cm.  long,  only  moderately  thick,  often  drooping,  bright  green  even  in  age, 
bearing  usually  two  somewhat  spreading  spines  at  an  areole;  spines  at  first  pale  yellow  or  pinkish,  in 
age  gray,  the  longest  4  cm.  long;  flower,  including  ovary  and  style,  5  cm.  long;  sepals  obtuse;  petals 
erect,  dark  red;  stamens  long-exserted,  dark  red. 

Type  locality:    Erroneously  cited  as  Havana,  Cuba. 

Distribution:    Common  in  cultivation  in  tropical   America;   perhaps   native   in   Panama. 
Opuntia  diffusa  and  O.  horizontalis  are  both  given  by  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  1'59.  1837) 
as  synonyms  of  this  species. 


38 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


lllustrut!o>is:  Agr.  Gaz.  N.  S.  W.  25:  pi.  opp.  p.  138;  Roig,  Cact.  Fl.  Cub.  pi.  [6],  this 
last  as  Nopalea  auberi;  Act.  Soc.  Sc.  Fenn.  10:  pi.  2,  as  Nopalea  angustifions. 

Plate  IV,  figure  4,  shows  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  from  Mr.  S.  F.  Curtis  in 
1897.  Figure  41  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  Juan  T.  Roig  in  the  Havana  Botanical 
Garden,  Cuba;  figure  42  shows  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Mr.  J.  F.  Cowell  at  Panama 
in  1905. 

6.  Nopalea  karwinskiana    (Salm-Dyck)    Schumann,  Ge.samtb.  Kakteen  752.    1898. 
Opuntia  karwinskiana  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hdh.  Dyck.  1849.  239.     1850. 
A  tree,   2  meters  high  or  more,  with  a  definite  jointed  terete  spiny  ttunk;  joints  oblong,  1.5  to  3 
dm.    long,    light  dull   green,   only   slightly  glaucous;   leaves  elongated,  acute;  areoles  distant;  spines   3 
to  7  from  an  areole,  porrect,  1  to  2  cm.  long,  pale  yellow  to  nearly  white;  glochids  yellow,  numerous, 
caducous;  flowers  red,  II  to  12  cm.  long;  ovary  deeply  umbilicate,  3  cm.  long. 

Type  loccility:   In  Mexico. 
Distiihuti(»! :   Mexico. 


Figs.  45,  46. — Flower  of  Tacinga  funalis.    XO.9. 
Drawing  by  A.  Lofgren. 


u 


Figs.  47,  48.— Tac 


This  species  was  sent  from  Mexico  by  Karwinsky,  who  supposed  it  was  an  Opiiiit'hi. 
When  described  by  Salm-Dyck  in  1830  it  had  not  flowered.  It  was  re-collected  by  Edmund 
Kerber  near  Colima,  Mexico,  and  flowered  for  the  first  time  in  cultivation  in  1879. 

Our  description  is  drawn  chiefly  from  a  plant  now  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden, 
obtained  from  M.  Simon,  of  St.  Ouen,  Paris,  France.  In  the  original  description  it  is  stated 
that  the  young  spines  are  2  to  4  and  rose-colored,  but  afterwards  18  to  20,  gray  and  deflexed. 
0.  nopalilla  Karwinsky  (Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  68.  1850)  was  first  given  as 
a  synonym  of  this  species. 

Figure  43  represents  a  joint  with  young  fruit,  from  a  plant  sent  by  M.  Simon,  St.  Ouen, 
Paris,  France,  in  1901. 

7.  Nopalea  inaperta  Schott  in  Griffiths,  Monatsschr.    Kakteenk.    23:  139.    1913. 

Described  as  5  to  7  meters  high,  but  in  cultivation  much  smaller,  diffusely  branched,  often 
bush-like;  trunk  very  spiny;  terminal  joints  rather  small,  obovate,  6  to  17  cm.  long,  strongly  tuber- 
cuhuc,   bright  green;   spmes  usually   3   to  6  at  areoles    of    young    joints,    more    at    old    ones,    yellowish 


BRITTON  AND  ROSE 


Nopiilea  auberi  as  it  grows  near  Mitla,  Mexico. 
Photographed  by  D.  T.  MacDougal. 


TACINGA. 


39 


brown,  2  cm.  long  or  less;  flowers  rather  small,  including  ovary  and  stamens  4  cm.  long;  filaments 
numerous,  long-exserted ;  style  much  longer  than  the  stamens;  stigma-lobes  5,  green;  fruit  small,  red, 
1.5  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:    In  Yucatan,  Mexico. 

Distribution :   Yucatan . 

Dr.  Griffiths  states  that  he  found  this  species  in  the  Albert  S.  White  Park,  Riverside, 
Cahfornia,  in  1904.  In  the  Bulletin  of  the  New  Mexico  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 
No.  60  he  describes  and  illustrates  it,  but  without  specific  name.  Later  he  identified  it  as 
the  same  as  one  of  Schott's  specimens  from  Yucatan,  and  then  published  it  as  above. 

Dr.  Griffiths  compares  it  with  N.  aubevi,  but  its  nearest  relative  is  N.  kanvniskiiuhi. 
from  which  it  differs  in  its  smaller  and  more  tuberculate  joints  and  much  smaller  flowers. 

llhistrcttiuu:    N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  3,  f.  1,  as  Nopated. 

Eigure  44  shows  a  joint  from  a  plant  obtained  by  Dr.  David  Griffiths  at  Riverside. 

4.  TACINGA  gen.  nov. 
Long,  clambermg,  or  climbing  cacti,  more  or  less  branched;  old  stems  smooth,  brown;  branches 
faintly  ribbed,  terete;  young  branches  green,  each  tipped  with  a  tuft  of  long  wool  or  soft  hairs;  are- 
oles  small  but  conspicuous,  black,  the  margin  giving  off  long,  white,  cobwebby  hairs;  leaves  minute, 
soon  deciduous,  3  to  4  mm.  long;  spines  sometimes  present,  on  young  joints  2  or  3,  reflexed,  appressed, 
brown,  2  to  3  mm.  long,  not  seen  on  old  branches;  glochids  from  the  upper  parts  of  the  areoles, 
pale  yellow,  numerous,  caducous,  falling  in  shov^ers  at  the  slightest  jarring  of  the  branch;  flower- 
buds  acute;  flowers  usually  terminal,  opening  in  the  evening  or  at  night;  ovary  narrow,  bearing 
numerous  areoles,  the  umbilicus  very  deep ;  petals  few,  spreading  or  recurved ;  a  row  of  hairs  between 
the  petals  and  the  stamens ;  stamens  and  style  erect,  much  longer  than  the  petals ;  fruit  oblong, 
the  upper  half  sterile,  bearing  areoles  but  no  spines;  seeds  nearly  globular,  white,  covered  with  a 
bony  aril 

This  genus  is  mtermediate  between 
Opuntia  and  Nopalea,  having  the  erect, 
non-sensitive  stamens  of  the  latter, 
and  the  areoles,  leaves,  and  glochids  of 
the  former.  From  Opuntia  it  differ;;  in 
its  narrow,  green,  recurved  petals,  in 
having  one  or  possibly  more  rows  of 
hairs  between  the  stamens  and  the 
petals,  in  the  clambering  or  climbing 
habit,  and  its  very  caducous  glochids. 

Only  one  species  is  known,  this 
a  common  and  characteristic  plant  of 
the  catinga*  in  Bahia,  Brazil,  whence 
the  anagramatic  name. 

1.  Tacinga  funalis  sp.  nov. 

At  first  erect,  then  climbing  over  shrubs 
or  through  trees,  1  to  12  meters  long,  some- 
what branching;  old  stems  woody,  slender; 
branches  usually  reddish,  the  areoles  borne 
on  low  ribs;  glochids  short;  flower,  includ- 
ing ovary,  7  to  8  cm.  long;  sepals  about  10, 
short,  ovate,  acute,  5  to  15  mm.  long;  petals  fig.  49.— Tacinga  funalis.   Showing  how  it  climbs  over  hushes. 

about  7,  green,  4  cm.  long,  acute,  revolute ; 

stamens  erect,  connivent,  not  sensitive;  anthers  narrow,  elongated;  style  elongated,  thread-like,  most 
slender  below,  a  little  longer  than  the  stamens,  4.5  cm.  long,  cream-colored;  stigma-lobes  5,  green;  fruit 
4  to  5  cm.  long;  seeds  3  to  4  mm.  broad. 

*Catinga  or  caatinga  is  the  common  Brazilian  name  for  the  thorn-bush  desert  region  in  Bahia,  Brazil.  Dr. 
Albert  Lofgren  says  that  the  name  (best  spelled  caatinga)  is  of  Indian  origin,  meaning  caa=wood,  forest;  tinga 
^ white,  clear;  a  forest  in  which  one  can  see  far. 


40 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


Common  in  the  dry  parts  of  Bahia,  Brazil,  where  it  was  collected  by  Rose  and  Russell 
in  1915  (No.  19723,  type).  Dr.  Zehntner  thinks  there  may  be  a  second  species,  as  he  has 
found  one  with  purple  flowers;  specimens  from  southern  Bahia  had  purple  buds,  but  the 
open  flowers  were  not  seen.    The  type  comes  from  Joazeiro,  northern  Bahia. 

Dr.  Rose  studied  this  species  in  the  field  and  believed  it  to  be  new.  On  reaching  Rio 
de  Janeiro,  he  found  that  Dr.  A.  Lofgren  had  also  studied  it,  referring  it,  however,  to 
OpHut'ia.  using  the  above  specific  name. 

Figures  45  and  AG  are  copied  from  drawings  of  the  flowers  given  to  Dr.  Rose  by  Dr. 
Lofgren;  figures  47  and  48  are  from  twigs  of  the  plant  grown  at  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden;  figure  49  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant. 


5.  MAIHUENIA  Phi 


ippi 


Gartenflora  32:  260.    1883. 


Plants  low,  cespitose,  often  forming  small,  dense  mounds;  stems  jointed;  joints  small,  globular 
or  short-cylindric;  leaves  small,  usually  terete,  persistent;  leaves  of  seedlings  terete,  ascending,  with 
2  long  white  bristles  in  the  axils;  areoles  filled  with  white  wool;  spines  3,  the  central  one  elongated, 
the  2  lateral  ones  small  and  very  short;  glochids  wanting;  flowers  large  for  the  size  of  the  plant,  yel- 
low or  red,  usually  terminal;  petals  distinct;  flower-tube  none;  stamens  and  style  much  shortet  than 
the  petals;  fruit  juicy  (described  as  dry  in  one  species),  oblong  to  obovoid,  bearing  small  scattered, 
ovate,    persistent    leaves;    wall    of    fruit    thin;    cotyledons  linear;  seed  black,  shinint;,  wirh  a  brittle  testa. 


Fig.  50. — Maihueni, 


Type  species:    Optint'ia  pi>epptgii  Otto. 

There  are  five  species  described,  rather  closely  related,  natives  of  the  high  mountains 
of  Chile  and  Argentina. 

The  generic  name  is  derived  from  maihuen,  the  native  name  of  the  plant. 

This  is  a  small,  localized  genus;  it  is  perhaps  nearest  Opuntia,  but  is  without  glochids 
and  has  different  seeds.  The  first  species  was  described  in  1837,  and  a  second  in  1864, 
both  as  Opiintia.  Weber  in  1898  transferred  them  to  Pereskia,  proposing  a  new  subgenus 
for  them,  but  they  are  much  less  like  Peresk'ui  than  Opuntia,  for,  except  as  to  the  seeds,  they 
have  little  in  common  with  Peresk'ni:  in  habit,  leaves,  spines,  flowers,  and  fruits  they  are  quite 
unlike  any  of  the  pereskias. 


MAIHUHNIA. 


41 


Fig,  51.— Maihuenia   pcicppigii.     XO.75. 
Fig.  52. — Maihuenia  bracliydelphys.     XO.75. 


Key  to  Species. 

Joints   subglobose 1.   AI.  p.iLigotiici 

Joints  oblong  to  cylindric. 

Leaves  linear,  4  to  6  mm.  long 2.  Af.  poeppig/i 

Leaves  ovate  to  subulate,  2  to  4  mm.  long. 

Joints  spineless  below 3.  M.  hrachydelphyi 

Joints  spiny  all  over. 

Leaves  on  the  ovary  with  white  hairs 

in  their  axils 4.  M.  vJenlinii 

Leaves  on  the  ovary  without  hairs  in 

their   axils 5.  Al.  lehiielchei 

1.  Maihuenia  patagonica   (Philippi). 

Opiintia  patagonica  Philippi,  Linnaea  33:  82.    1864. 

Peteskia  philtppii  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  939.    1898. 

Maihuetiia  philippii  Weber  in  Schumann,  Gesamtb.    Kak- 

teen  757.     1898. 

Low,  much  branched,  and  dense,  resembling  Se/nperi'/- 

iiini  tomentosiim  in  habit;  joints  subglobose,  1  to  1.5  cm.  in 

diameter;     leaves    subulate,    green;    young    areoles    bearing 

white  hairs ;  spines  weak,  hardly  pungent,  white,  the  longest 

10  to  15  mm.  long;  flowers  2.8  to  3  cm.  long;  fruit  8  to  10  mm.  long,  thicker  than  long;  leaves  on 
the  ovary  ovate  to  lanceolate,  fleshy,  naked  in  their  axils,  except  some  of  the  upper  ones;  seeds  round, 
3  to  4  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:    In  southern  Argentina. 

Distribution:   Near  snow-line  on  southern  mountain  ranges  of  Argentina  and  Chile. 
Op  tint  id  philippii  Haage  and  Schmidt,  without   description,   is   given   by   Weber    (Diet. 
Hort.  Bois  939.  1898)  as  a  synonym  of  this  species. 
This  is  called  by  the  natives  espina  blanca. 

2.  Maihuenia  poeppigii  (Otto)  Weber  in 

Schumann,    Gesamtb.     Kakteen    755. 
1898. 

Opuntid  poeppigii   Otto   in    Pfeifter, 

Enum.  Cact.  174.  1837. 
Opiintia  maihuen  Remy  in  Gay,   Fl. 

Chilena  3:  29.    1847. 
Pereskia  poeppigii  Salm-Dyck,  Cact. 
Hort.   Dyck.    1849.   252.     1850. 
Shrubby,    much    branched,    prostrate, 
forming   dense   cespitose    masses    1    meter 
broad;    joints    spiny    to    the    bases,    cyhn- 
dric,  6  cm.  long  or  more,  1.5  cm.  in  diam- 
eter;  leaves  cylindric,  green,  4  to  6  mm. 
long;  spines  3  from  each  areola,  the  2  lat- 
erals very  short,  the  central  one  1.5  to  2 
cm.   long;   flowers   terminal,  yellow;   fruit 
oblong  to  obovoid,  about  5  cm.  long  and 
3  cm.  thick. 

Type  locality:  In  Chile,  without 
definite  locality. 

Distrihiitio)!:  High  mountains  of 
Chile. 

Illustrations:  Schumann,  Gesamtb. 
Kakteen  f.  108,  B,  c;  Gartenflora  30. 
412,  AS Pereskia  poeppigii;  Gartenflora 
32:  pi.  1129,  f.  1  to"4,  as  Opitntia 
poeppigii;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  3:  1. 
82,  as  Pereskia  poeppigii. 

Figure  51  is  from  a  fruit  obtained 
by  Dr.  Rose  at  the  National  Museum 
of  Chile,  Santiago,  in  1914. 

o  K,^  ^1  — M„,i„,„nia  tehuelches 


42  THE   CACTACEAE. 

3.  Maihuenia  brachydelphys  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  756.     1898. 

Opiintia  hrachydelpbis  Schumann   in  Just,   Bot.  Jahresb.  26':  3-43.     1898. 

Cespitose,  prostrate;  joints  cylindric  or  nearly  ellipsoid,  naked  below,  2  cm.  long;  spines  2  or  3, 
one  much  stouter  and  longer,  yellow  except  at  base  and  there  brown;  leaves  terete,  2  to  3  mm.  long; 
areoles  circular,  full  of  white  wool;  flowers  usually  from  the  tips  of  joints,  red,  3.5  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:   Pasco  Cruz,  Argentina,  34°  south  latitucle,  province  of  Mendoza. 

Distribution:   Western  Argentina. 

Opuntia  brachydelphys  Schumann  is  mentioned  by  Kuntze  (Rev.  Gen.  PI.  3":  107.  1898) 
by  name  only. 

Illustration:    Schumann,  Gesamtb.    Kakteen  f.  108,  a. 

Figure  52  is  copied  from  Schumann's  illustration  above  cited. 
Mawmillaria  brachydelphis  is  a  clerical  error  for  Opuntia  brachydelphis. 

4.  Maihuenia  valentinii  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  II.  4:  289.    1902. 

Shrubby,  1  to  2.5  dm.  high,  dull  green;  joints  cylindric,  somewhat  clavate,  1  to  3-5  cm.  long; 
leaves  ovate,  small;  spines  3,  the  central  much  larger,  2  to  6  cm.  long;  flowers  from  near  the  ends  of 
the  branches,  2  cm.  broad,  the  sepals  reddish,  the  petals  white  to  light  yellow;  stamens  indefinite; 
filaments  white;  style  6  mm.  long,  white,  longer  than  the  stamens;  stigma-lobes  5,  short,  2  mm.  long, 
purplish;  ovary  globular  to  obconic,  5  to  8  mm.  long,  bearing  numerous  triangular  fleshy  leaves  with 
long  white  hairs  and  sometimes  1  or  2  spines  in  their  axils;  fruit  unknown. 

Type  locality:    Near  Trelew,  Chubut,  Argentina. 

Distribution:    Territory  of  Chubut,  southern  Argentina. 

Related  to  M.  tehuelches  and  M.  poeppigii.  but  said  to  be  very  distinct. 

Figure  50  is  from  a  photograph  furnished  by  Dr.  Carlos  Spegazzini. 

5.  Maihuenia  tehuelches  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  II.  4:288.    1902. 

Shrubby,  2  to  3  dm.  high,  with  many  intricate  branches,  dull  green;  joints  cylindric,  ellipsoid 
to  somewhat  clavate,  2  to  8  cm.  long  by  10  to  12  cm.  in  diameter;  leaves  ovate,  small,  2  to  4  mm. 
long;  spines  3,  the  central  one  erect,  2  to  4  cm.  long,  the  2  lateral  ones  only  5  to  10  mm.  long;  flowers 
at  the  apex  of  the  branches,  35  to  45  mm.  broad,  white  to  yellowish  white;  fruit  globose,  naked,  dry, 
2  cm.  in  diameter;  seeds  black,  3  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:    Between  San  Julian  and  Rio  Deseado,  Argentina. 

Distribution:    Dry,  rocky  deserts,  southwestern  Argentina. 

Figure  53  is  from  a  photograph  furnished  by  Dr.  Carlos  Spegazzini. 

6.  OPUNTIA  (Tournefort)  Miller,  Card.  Diet.  Abridg.  ed.  4.    1754. 

Cactodendron  Bigelow,  Pac.  R.  Rep.  3:   102;  4:7,   11,  lii.    1856. 

Consolea  Lemaire,  Rev.  Hort.  1862:  174.    1862. 

Tephrocactus  Lemaire,  Cact.  88.     1868. 

Ficindica  St.  Lager,  Ann.  Sue.  Bot.  Lyon  7:  70.     1880. 

Cactus  Lemaire  +  Cactees  86.  1868.  Not  Linnaeus,  1753. 
Cacti,  sometimes  with  definite  trunks,  or  more  often  much  branched  from  the  base,  the  branches 
often  spreading,  reclining,  or  prostrate,  sometimes  clambering,  but  never  climbing  (one  species  known 
with  annual  stems);  roots  fibrous  or  rarely  tuberous  and  large  and  fleshy;  ultimate  branches  (joints 
or  pads)  cylindric  to  globose  or  flattened,  usually  very  fleshy,  sometimes  woody;  areoles  axillary,  bear- 
ing spines,  barbed  bristles  (glochids),  hairs,  flowers,  and  sometimes  glands;  leaves  usually  small,  terete, 
mostly  early  deciduous;  spines  solitary  or  in  clusters,  terete  or  flattened,  naked  or  sheathed,  variously 
colored;  glochids  usually  numerous,  borne  above  the  spines;  flowers  usually  one  at  an  areole;  ovary 
inferior,  one-celled,  many-ovuled,  bearing  leaves,  the  areoles  often  with  spines  and  glochids;  sepals 
green  or  more  or  less  colored,  usually  grading  into  the  petals;  petals  usually  of  various  shades  and 
combinations  of  green,  yellow,  and  red  (rarely  white),  widely  spreading;  stamens  much  shorter  than 
the  petals,  sensitive;  style  single,  thick;  stigma-lobes  short;  fruit  a  berry,  dry  or  juicy,  often  edible, 
spiny  or  naked,  globular,  ovoid  or  ellipsoid;  seed  covered  by  a  hard,  bony  aril,  white,  flattened;  embryo 
curved;  cotyledons  2,  large. 

The  species  grow  naturally  from  Massachusetts  to  British  Columbia  south  to  the  Strait 
of  Magellan.  Several  have  been  naturalized  and  have  become  very  abundant  locally  in  the 
Old  World  and  in  Australia. 


OPUNTIA.  43 

The  type  species  is  Cactus  opuntia  Linnaeus. 

Karl  Schumann  recognized  131  species  in  his  "Gesamtbeschreibung  der  Kakteen,"  pub- 
lished during  the  years  1897  and  1898.  Many  have  been  described  since  this  monograph 
was  published. 

The  name  Opuntia  was  that  of  a  town  in  Greece,  where  some  cactus-like  plant  is  said 
to  have  grown. 

The  genus  is  important  economically.  It  furnishes  the  well-known  tuna  fruit  largely 
imported  into  our  eastern  cities  from  Italy  and  which  is  common  in  the  markets  of  Mexico. 
Some  species  are  used  for  hedges,  the  branches  of  others  are  cooked  like  spinach,  and  still 
others  furnish  forage  for  stock. 

The  species  are  numerous  and  very  diverse,  and  have  at  various  times  been  grouped 
by  authors  into  several  genera,  while  other  species,  now  referred  by  us  to  Nopalea,  Maihuenia, 
and  Pereskiopsis.  were  included  in  Opuntia. 

The  following  genera  now  referred  to  Opuntia  have  been  regarded  as  distinct  from  it: 

Consoled  was  described  by  Lemaire  in  1862.  He  described  five  species,  of  which 
C.  rubescens  is  the  first  and  therefore  the  type.  This  group  is  a  striking  one,  characterized 
by  a  pronounced  cylindric  trunk  in  old  plants,  with  an  unjointed  central  woody  axis,  pecu- 
liar semaphore-like  branches  at  the  top,  and  very  small  flowers.  There  are  eight  species  of 
this  group,  described  under  our  series  Sp'inosisshnae.  They  are  confined  to  the  West  Indies, 
although  C.  rubescens.  the  spineless  race  of  Opuntia  catacantha,  was  originally  described 
as  from  Brazil — doubtless  erroneously. 

Tephrocactus  was  described  by  Lemaire  in  1868,  and  to  it  he  referred  eight  species  of 
Opuntia.  T.  diadeniatus  is  the  type  species.  Schumann  included  it  in  Opuntia  as  a  sub- 
genus, with  15  species.    They  are  all  South  American,  chiefly  in  Argentina  and  Bolivia. 

Ficindica  was  established  by  St.  Lager  in  1880,  based  on  Opuntia  ficus-indica.  which  is 
clearly  congeneric  with  Opuntia  opuntia. 

In  1856  the  name  Cactodendron  was  proposed  in  an  account  of  Whipple's  Expedition, 
published  in  volumes  3  and  4  of  the  Pacific  Railroad  Reports.  It  was  apparently  not 
intended  to  be  a  formal  publication,  but  as  a  definite  species  is  indicated,  the  name  is 
published.  It  will  be  of  interest  to  record  here  the  evidence  upon  which  we  reach  this 
conclusion: 

Cactodendron  Bigelow  Pac.  R.  Rep.  3:   102;  4:7,   11;  Additional  Notes  and  Corrections  iii.   1856. 

There  are  *  *  *  Opuntia  of  many  varieties;  some  with  wide  leaf -like  joints,  others  of 
shrubby  form  and  woody  fibre,  which  the  botanist  proposes  to  name  Cactodendron."  Pac.  R.  Rep.  3: 
102. 

"Immediately  on  our  entrance  into  this  valley  (November  19  [1856})  we  found  and  collected  a 
new  species  of  Opiinlhi.  with  prostrate,  nearly  terete  joints,  entirely  devoid  of  woody  fibre;  *  *  * 
Lieutenant  Whipple  discovered  the  first  specimen  of  our  new  Cactodendron.  as  we  were  pleased  to 
call  it,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  O.  arhorescens."    Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  7. 

'The  arborescent  Opuntia.  first  found  near  Zuni,  which,  to  distinguish  from  the  true  O.  arhores- 
cens, we  called  Cacto-dendron,  finds  its  western  limits  near  the  termination  of  this  region.  "  Pac.  R. 
Rep.  4:  10. 

"15.  'New  arboresent  Opuntia,'  called  also  'our  new  Cactodendron.'  pages  7  and  11,  is  Opuntia 
tvhipplei.  E.  &  B.,  new  species."     Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  Additional  Notes  and  Corrections  iii. 

Opuntias  are  known  under  a  great  variety  of  names.  Among  the  names  for  the  flat- 
jointed  species,  the  most  common  are:  prickly  pear  in  the  United  States;  tuna  in  Mexico; 
sucker  and  buUsucker  in  the  Lesser  Antilles.  For  the  round-stemmed  forms  we  have:  cane 
cactus,  and  such  Mexican  names  as  choUa  and  tasajo.  Dr.  David  Grifhths  has  published  a 
list  of  names  used  in  Mexico. 

The  genus  Opuntia,  as  understood  by  us,  is  composed  of  at  least  250  species,  but  more 
than  900  names  are  to  be  found  in  literature.     No  type  specimens  of  many  of  the  species 


44  THE   CACTACEAE. 

were  preserved  by  rheir  authors,  some  have,  apparently,  been  lost,  and  some,  which  are  prob- 
ably preserved,  we  have  been  unable  to  study. 

The  genus  shows  a  great  range  in  stem  structure,  varying  from  cylindric  to  broad  and 
flat.  These  extremes  suggest  different  generic  types,  but  these  characters  can  not  be  used 
except  in  the  most  general  way,  for  some  species  have  both  rounded  and  flattened  stems. 
Some  with  round  stems  have  flowers  which  suggest  a  closer  relationship  with  the  species 
with  flattened  stems. 

The  habits  of  some  of  the  species  are  very  characteristic,  while  others  show  a  wide 
range  of  forms.  Many  of  the  erect  or  tree-like  forms,  when  grown  from  cuttings,  develop 
bushy  habits  much  unlike  their  normal  shapes. 

The  spines,  while  somewhat  constant  in  color  in  some  species,  vary  considerably  in 
others,  and  the  number  of  spines  is  rather  inconstant.  Species  which  are  normally  abun- 
dantly spined  are  sometimes  naked  when  cultivated,  while  species  which  are  normally  naked 
sometimes  develop  spines  in  cultivation;  cultivated  specimens  usually  have  weaker  spines 
and  sometimes  decidedly  different  ones  from  wild  plants. 

The  flowers  often  vary  greatly  in  color,  as  is  seen  especially  in  O.  vt'isicolor  and  O. 
Ihidheimeri.  which  show  wide  ranges  of  color  forms.  Some  flowers  vary  in  color  during 
the  day. 

We  group  the  species  known  to  us  into  3  subgenera,  46  series,  and  with  the  following 
characteristics : 

Key  to  Subgenera  and  Series  oi-  Opuntia. 

A.  Joints  all  terete,  elongated  or  short,  cylindric  to  globose. 

B.  Branches  several,  many-jointed Subgenus  1.  Cylindropuntia 

C.  Spines  with  papery  sheaths. 

D.  Spines,   at   least  some  of  them,   solitary,   sometimes   several, 

acicular;    ultimate   branches   slender,    rarely   more 

than  1   cm.  thick. 

E.  Stem    and    branches    conspicuously    marked    by    flattened, 

diamond-shaped  tubercles;  fruit  dry,  covered  with 

long  bristle-hke  spines Series   1.  Ramos issimae  (N.  A.) 

EE.  Tubercles    not   flattened   nor   diamond-shaped;    fruit    usually 

a  naked   berry Series  2.  Leptocaules   (N.  A.) 

DD.  Spines  always  more  than  1;  ultimate  branches  stouter. 

E.  Ultimate  branches  not  over  2  cm.  thick Series  3.  Thurberiaiiae  (N.  A.) 

EE.  Ultimate  branches  2  cm.  thick  or  more. 

F.  Fruit  dry    Series  4.  Echinocarpae  (N.  A. ) 

FF.  Fruit  fleshy. 

G.  Tubercles  of  young  joints  scarcely  longer  than  broad.   Series  5.  Bigelovianae  (N.  A.) 
GG.  Tubercles  distinctly  longer  than  broad. 

H.    Tubercles  narrow,  high,  laterally  flattened Series  6.  Imbricatae  (N.  A.) 

HH.  Tubercles   broad,    low Series  7.  Fi/lgidae  (N.  A. ) 

CC.  Spines  without  sheaths. 

D.  Joints  not  tuberculate,  or  with  broad  or  flat  tubercles. 

E.  Areoles    long-woolly   or   with   weak   hairs    (without   hairs 

in   O.   verse  half  eltii) Series  8.   VestilM  (S.  A.) 

EE.  Areoles  neither  long-woolly  nor  long-hairy. 

F.  Joints   clavate   or   crested Series  9.   CLuariuiJes  (S.  A.) 

FF.  Joints  neither  clavate  nor  crested. 

G.  Low,  slender  species,  scarcely,  if  at  all,  tuberculate.  .  .   Series   10.  Salmianae  (S.  A.) 
GG.  Tall,    stout    species,     the    tubercles    broad    or    flat; 

leaves  large Series  11.  Subulatae  (S.  A.) 

DD.  Joints  strongly  tuberculate.  the  tubercles  elevated. 

E.  Tall,  shrubby  species;  joints  cylindric Series  12.  MiqiielianM  (S.  A.) 

EE.  Low,  prostrate  species;  joints  clavate   (transition  to 

Tephrocactus)     Series  13.  Clavalae  (N.  A.) 

BB.  Branches  1  to  few-jointed,  the  short  joints  usually  clustered Subgenus  2.  Tephrocactus  (S.  A.) 

C.  Joints,    at    least     some    of    them,   cylindric,    tuberculate,     the 

tubercles  contiguous  (transition  to  C;7;Ht/TO/'«K//d)    Series  1.  Weherianae 
CC.  Joints  globose  to  oblong,  mostly  little,  if  at  all.  tuberculate. 

D.  Areoles  normally  bearing  many  long  white  hairs,  which  often 

cover  the  whole  plant Series  2.  Floccosae 

DD.  Areoles  without  hairs. 

E.  Spines,  when  present,  at  least  some  of  them,  modified  into 

flat,  papery  processes Series  3.  Glomeralae 

EE.  Spines,    when   present,    all   subulate   or   acicular,   terete   or  ,    „      ,      ,. 

somewhat   flattened Senes  4.  ?entUndtanae 


OPUNTIA.  45 

Key  to  Subgenera  and  Series  oe  Opuntia — continued. 

AA.  At  least  some  of  the  joints  flat  or  compressed Siibjjtnus  V    Pi.atvoi'Uniia  99.* 

B.  Stems  perennial,  stout  or  slender. 

C.  Plants  branching  from  near  or  at  the  base,  not  formmg  erect, 
cylindric  unjointed  trunks;  flowers  mostly  large. 
D.  Epidermis  glabrous   or  pubescent,   not   papillose-tuberculate 
when  dry. 
E.  Flowers  perfect;  petals  obovate  to  oblong. 

F.   Fruit  a  juicy  berry   (exceptions  in   Series   5,   Buiilares). 
G.  Joints  readily  detached. 

H.  Joints   very    readily   detached;    low,    mostly   small- 
jointed  species. 
I.  Joints    little    flattened,    subterete     (transition    to 

Cylindropttnlij) Series  1.  Pumilae  (N.  A.;  S.  A.)  100. 

II.  At    least    the    ultimate    joints    distinctly    flattened. 

J.  Ultimate  joints  or  all  joints  turgid Series  2.  Curassavicae  (N.  A. ;  S.  A.)  102. 

JJ.  Ultimate  joints  flat  and  thin Series  3.  Aurantiacae  (S.  A.)  106. 

HH.  Joints    less    readily    detached;    mostly    taller    and 

larger-jointed    species Series  A.  Tiinae  (N.  A.;  S.  A.)  110. 

GG.  Joints  not  readily  detached,  persistent. 

H.  Areoles  small,   1   to   2  mm.  in  diameter,   not  ele- 
vated,  mostly  close  together Series  5.   B^tsHnres  (N.  A.)  118. 

HH.  Areoles  larger,  mostly  distant. 

I.   Prostrate    or    spreading    species;    joints    relatively 
small.     (O.  auitrhia  suberect.) 
J.  Joints  not  tuberculate. 

K.   Flowers    small,    brick-red Series  6.  Utamoenae  (S.  A.)  125. 

KK.   Flowers   large,   yellow Series  7.  Turliipitue  (N.  A. )  126. 

JJ.  Joints   strongly   tuberculate Series  8.   Sulphureae  (S.  A.)  13.t. 

U.   Bushy,  depressed  or  tall  species. 
J.   Spines,   when   present,    brown    or   yellow    (white 
in  O.  seti spina). 
K.  Spines  brown,  at  least  at  the  base  or  tip. 
L.  Bushy  or  depressed  species. 

M.   Fruit  very  small Series  9.  Strigiles  (N.  A.)  136. 

MM.  Fruit  large. 

N.  Spines   acicular Series  10.  Selispinae  (N.  A.)  136. 

NN.  Spines   subulate Series  11.  Pkieacantkie  (N.  A.)  139. 

LL.  Tall     species,     sometimes     with     a     definite 
trunk    (O.   galjpageia   sometimes   de- 
pressed). 

M.  Spines  several  at  each  areole Series  12.  ELitiores  (N.  A.;  S.  A.)  149. 

MM.  Spines,    when   present,    1    to    few    at    each 

areole   Series  13.  ELiim  (S.  A.)  156. 

KK.  Spines,  if  any,  yellow,  at  least  partially. 
L.  Epidermis  glabrous. 

M.  Areoles   close   together,   bearing   long 

brown  wool  Series  14.  Scheerianae  (N.  A. )  159. 

MM.  Areoles  distant,  without  long  wool Series  15.  Dillenianae  (N.  A.)  159. 

LL.  Epidermis,   at   least   that  of  the  ovary,   pub- 
escent    Series  16.  Macdougalhm.ie  (N.  A.)  169. 

JJ.  Spines,   when   present,   white    (or   faintly   yellow). 
K.  Epidermis  pubescent. 

L.   Spines,   when  present,   acicular Series  17.  TomentosM  (N.  A.)  172. 

LL.  Spines   several,    setaceous,    flexible Series  18.  Leucolrkbae  (N.  A.)  174. 

KK.   Epidermis  glabrous. 

L.  Areoles  bearing  long,  soft  hairs Series  19.   Orbkulatae  (N.  A.)  176. 

LL.  Areoles  without  long  hairs. 

M.  Joints  green  or  bluish  green. 

N.  Spineless,    or    with    few,    usually    short, 

spines Series  20.   Ficm-indicje  (N.  A. ;  S.  A.)  177. 

NN.  Spiny,  at  least  old  joints  so Series  21.  Streptacatithje  (N.  A.;  S.  A.)  181. 

MM.  Joints  blue Series  22.  Rohushie  (N.  A.)  191. 

FF.  Fruit  dry,  not  juicy Series  23.  Polyac.mlk,e  (N.  A.)  193. 

EE.  Flowers  dioecious;  petals  very  narrow Series  24.  Steiiopetahe  (N.  A.)  200. 

DD.  Epidermis   densely   papillose-tuberculate  when   dry Series  25.  Palmadorae  (S.  A.)  201. 

CC.   Plants  with  erect,  unjointed  trunks,  the  branches  with  flat  joints; 
flowers  mostly  small. 
D.  Flowers  small;  joints  spreading. 

E.  Joints  all  flat,  relatively  thick Series  26.  Spinosissimje  (N.  A.)  202. 

EE.  Some  joints  terete,  others  flat  and  very  thin Series  27.  Brasilienses  (S.  A.)  209. 

DD.  Flowers  large;  joints  ascending Series  28.  AmmophiUe  (N.  A.)  211. 

BB.  Stems  annual,  very  slender Series  29.  Chaffeyanae  (N.  A.)  213. 

•  The  page  references  (as  99,  etc.)  were  not  in  the  original  printing  but  were  added  here  for  convenience. 


46 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


Subgenus  1.    CYLINDROPUNTIA. 
Includes  the  many-jointed  species  in  which  none  of  the  joints  is  at  ail  flattened. 
Series   1.    RAMOSISSIMAE. 

The  series  consists  of  a  single  bushy  species,  with  slender  joints,  the  nearly  flat  tubercles  diamond- 
shaped  and  contiguous,  the  acicular  spines,  when  present,  usually  only  1  at  an  areole. 

1.    Opuntia  ramosissima  Engelmann,  Amer.  Journ.  Sci.  II.  14:  339.    1852. 
Opunthi  tetsellMj  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  309.     1856. 

Frutescent,  bushy,  sometimes  2  meters  high,  the  branches  gray,  often  widely  spreading,  and  9  cm. 
long;  tubercles  low,  slightly  convex,  4-angled  to  6-angled,  giving  the  surface  an  appearance  of  being 
covered  with  diamond-shaped  plates;  leaves  ovoid, 
1  to  3  mm.  long,  acute;  areoles  on  young  shoots  cir- 
cular, with  white  or  tawny  wool  and  pale  glochids, 
the  upper  part  in  age  compressed  into  the  narrow 
slit  between  the  two  adjoining  tubercles,  the  lower 
part  depressed-linear,  with  a  slightly  elevated  border; 
spines  often  wanting,  but  when  present  abundant, 
usually  one  at  each  areole,  rarely  2,  porrect,  acicular, 
sometimes  6  cm.  long,  usually  reddish  when  young, 
covered  by  loose,  yellow,  papery  sheaths;  flowers, 
including  ovaries,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  sepals  subulate, 
similar  to  the  leaves  of  the  ovary,  but  longer;  petals 
greenish  yellow,  tinged  with  red,  obovate,  aristulate, 
about  1  cm.  long;  stamens  greenish  yellow;  anthers 
orange-colored;  style  and  stigma-lobes  cream-colored; 
ovary  narrowly  obconic,  covered  with  emarginate  tuber- 
cles, the  areoles  bearing  wool  and  long  glochids,  but 
no  spines;  fruit  dry,  obovate,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long,  cov- 
ered with  clusters  of  weak,  slender  spines,  appearing 
like  a  bur;  seeds  few,  white,  5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  In  California,  near  the  Colo- 
rado River. 

Distribution:  Southern  Nevada,  western 
Arizona,  southeastern  California,  northwestern 
Sonora   and  probably   northeastern   Lower   California. 

The  flowers  of  this  species  have  been  described  as  purple,  apparently  erroneously. 

This  species  is  found  in  the  most  arid  deserts  of  the  southwestern  part  of  the  United 
States,  usually  growing  on  low  hills,  and  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  lower  Colorado;  it  is 
here  rather  inconspicuous  and  might  easily  be  overlooked.  It  is  one  of  the  least  succulent 
species  of  the  genus,  the  terminal  shoots  soon  becoming  hard,  and  hence  the  plant  is  difficult 
to  propagate  from  cuttings,  and  is  rarely  found  in  greenhouse  collections. 

opuntia  leiielLilj  Jenudata  according  to  C.  R.  Orcutt,  is  only  a  form — spiny  joints  frequently  occurring  on  the 
same  plant  with  the  spmeless  form;  it  is  common  in  the  Mojave  Desert,  California.  It  was  mentioned  by  Alverson 
(Cact.  Cat.  6)  while  O.  ramoiiisima  denudala  is  listed  by  Weinberg  (Cacti  22).  O.  rdmoshiima  crhtala  is  mentioned 
by  Schelle  (Handb.  Kakteenk.  41.    1907). 

Opiuitia  tessellata  ciistata  Schumann  (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  8:70.  1898)  is  a  striking 
monstrosity  which  Schumann  has  described  and  figured. 

Illustrations:  Cact.  Journ.  1:  pi.  for  February,  pi.  [l};Cycl.  Amer.  Hort. Bailey  3:  f.  1549; 
Pac.  R,  Rep.  4:  pi.  21;  24,  f.  20,  all  as  Opuntia  tessellata.  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  8:  71,  as 
Opuntia  tessellata  cristata;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2596,  2610. 

Figure  54  represents  a  spiny  branch  drawn  from  a  specimen  sent  by  Mr.  S.  B.  Parish 
from  Barstow,  California,  in  1915;  figure  55  shows  a  portion  of  an  unarmed  branch  sent 
by  the  same  collector  from  the  same  locality. 

Series  2.  LEFfOCAULES. 

Bushy  species,  with  slender  joints,  the  ultimate  ones  4  to  1 5  inm.  thick,  often  readily  detached; 
the  flowers  small. 

Inhabitants  of  the  southwestern  United  States,  Mexico,  northern  South  America,  and 
one  species  in  Santo  Domingo. 


-Opun 


OPUNTIA  47 

Key  to  Species. 

intimate  juints  short,  usually  at  right  angles  to  the  branches,  4  to  7  mm.  thick. 
Bushy  plants,  1.5  meters  high  or  less;  fruit  sinall,  fertile. 
Branches  scarcely  if  at  all  tuberculate. 

Leaves  ovoid  to  ovoid-subulate;  young  areoles  long-hairy 2.   O.  morlolensh 

Leaves  linear;  areoles  not  long-hairy i.   O.  teptocaulis 

Branches    long-tuberculate 4.   O.  lesa/o 

Elongated  plants,  up  to  2  meters  long;  fruit  larger,  sterile 5.   O.  caribaea 

Ultimate  joints  longer,  8  to  15  mm.  thick,  usually  at  an  acute  angle  to  the  branches. 

Joints  only  slightly  tuberculate S.   O.  arbuscula 

Joints  manifestly  tuberculate 7.   O.  kleiniae 

2.  Opunda  mortolensis  sp.  nov. 

Slender,  6  dm.  high  or  less,  dull  green,  with  dark  blotches  below  the  areoles,  the  ultimate  twigs 
short,  sometimes  only  2  cm.  long,  4  to  5  mm.  thick,  scarcely  tuberculate ;  leaves  ovate  to  ovate- 
subulate,  2  to  4  mm.  long,  green,  with  acute  bronze-colored  tips;  young  areoles  with  numerous,  early 
deciduous,  weak  white  hairs  sometimes  longer  than  the  leaves,  and  several  brown  glochids ;  areoles  of  old 
branches  with  solitary  acicular  spines  'S  to  5  cm.  long,  these  with  tightly  fitting  brownish  sheaths;  flowers 
and  fruit  unknown. 

Described  from  No.  25360,  New  York  Botanical  Garden,  received  from  the  garden  of 
Sir  Tliomas  Hanbury,  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1906.  Mr.  Berger  has  referred  this  specimen 
to  Opuntia  leptocaulis  longispina,  but  this  was  considered  by  Dr.  Engelmann  as  the  "usual 
western  form"  of  O.  leptocaulis. 

An  herbarium  specimen  collected  by  Rose,  Standley,  and  Russell  at  Empalme,  Sonora, 
Mexico,  March  11,  1910  (No.  12644),  appears  to  be  referable  to  this  species. 

The  short  leaves  and  long-hairy  young  areoles  appear  to  distinguish  this  plant  from 
0.  leptocaulis. 

Illustrations:  Gard.  Chron.  Ill,  34:  f.  37,  as  Opuntia  leptocaulis  longispina. 

Plate  VI,  figure  1,  represents  a  branch  of  a  plant  sent  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1906; 
figure  2  shows  a  leafy  twig  of  the  same  plant. 

3.  Opuntia  leptocaulis  De  Candolle,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  118.     1828. 

Opuntia  ramuUjera  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  360.     18.^1. 

Opuntia  gracilis  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.   172.      1837. 

Opuntia  fragilis  frutescens  Engelmann,  Host.  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.  5:  245.     1845. 

Opuntia  virgata  Link  and  Otto  in  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  506.     1846. 

Opuntia  raginata  Engelmann  in  Wislizenus,  Mem.  Tour  North.  Mex.   100.     1848. 

Opuntia  calif oniica  Engelmann  in  Emory,  Mil.  Reconn.  158.     1848. 

Opuntia  fnaescens  Engelmann,  Bost.  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.  6:  208.     1850. 

Opuntia  jrutescens  hreii\pina  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  309.     1856. 

Opuntia  frutescens  longispina  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  309.     185h. 

Opuntia  leptocaulis  brevispina  S.  VCatson,  Bibl.  Index  1:  407.     1878. 

Opuntia  leptocaulis  vaginata  S.  Watson,  Bibl.  Index  1:  407.     1878. 

Opuntia  leptocaulis  stipata  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  456.     1896. 

Opuntia  leptocaulis  longispina  Berger,  Bot.  Jahrb.  Engler  36:  459.  1905. 
Usually  bushy,  often  compact,  2  to  20  dm.  high,  but  sometimes  with  a  short,  definite  trunk  5  to  8 
cm.  in  diameter,  dull  green  with  darker  blotches  below  the  areoles,  with  slender,  cylindric,  ascending, 
hardly  tuberculate  branches;  branches,  especially  the  fruiting  ones,  thickly  set  with  short,  usually  spine- 
less joints  spreading  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  main  branches,  very  easily  detached;  leaves 
green,  awl-shaped,  12  mm.  long  or  less,  acute;  spines  usually  solitary  at  young  areoles,  very  slender, 
white,  at  areoles  of  old  branches  2  or  3  together,  2  to  5  cm.  long  or  less;  sheaths  of  spines  closely  fit- 
ting or  loose  and  papery,  yellowish  brown  to  whitish;  areoles  with  very  short  white  wool;  flowers 
greenish  or  yellowish,  1.5  to  2  cm.  long  including  the  ovary;  sepals  broadly  ovate,  acute,  or  cuspidate; 
ovary  obconic,  bearing  numerous  small  woolly  brown  areoles  subtended  by  small  leaves,  its  glochids 
brown;  fruit  small,  globular  to  obovate  or  even  clavate,  often  proliferous,  red  or  rarely  yellow,  10  to 
18  mm.  long,  turgid,  slightly  fleshy;  seeds  compressed,  3  to  4  mm.  broad,  with  narrow,  often  acute, 
margins. 

Type  locality:   In  Mexico. 

Distribution:   Southwestern  United  States  and  Mexico. 

This  species  has  a  wide  distribution  for  an  Opuntia.  extending  from  southern  LInited 
States  to  Puebla,  Mexico. 

The  great  variation  in  the  length  of  the  spines  and  in  the  character  of  the  spine  sheaths 
has  led  to  the  description  of  several  varieties.  These  all  seem  to  us  to  merge  into  the  one 
species,  as  above  indicated.    It  sometimes  hybridizes  with  O.  inihricata.    See  C.  B.  Allaire's 


48 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


plant  from  San  Antonio,  New  Mexico. 

The  following  names,  Opiiiitia  leptocaidis  Lietevirens  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  184. 1834), 
O.  grad/is  subpatens  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  73.  1850),  and  O.  leptocaulis 
major  Tourney  (Cycl.  Amer.  Hort.  Bailey  3:  1152.  1901)  are  printed  but  not  described.  O. 
stipata  (Schumann,  Index  Gesemtb.  Kakteen  830.    1898)  refers  to  O.  leptocaulis  stipata. 

lllnstYationr.  Bull.  Torr.  Club  32:  pi.  10,  f.  9;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Card.  19:  pi.  21,  in  part; 
Safford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1908:  f.  12;  Emory,  Mil.  Reconn.  app.  2  f.  12;  Pac.  R.  Rep. 
4:  pi.  20,  f.  1;  pi.  24,  f.  13  to  15,  all  as  Opuntia  vaginata.   Cact.  Journ.  1:  154,  as  Opioitia 


Fig.  57 — Opuntia  leptocau-     Fig.  58. — Opuntia  ca- 
FiG.  56 — Opuntia  leptocaulis  in  the  foieground.  lis.     XO.4.  ribaea.       XO.66. 

jrutescens.  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  20,  f.  4,  5;  pi.  24,  f.  19,  all  as  Opuntia  jrutescens  brevispina. 
Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  20,  f.  2,  3;  pi.  24,  f.  16  to  18,  all  as  Opuntia  jrutescens  longispina.  Emory, 
Mil.  Reconn.  158.  No.  11,  as  Opuntia  calijornica;  Gartenwalt  11:  75,  as  O.  vaginata;  Carnegie 
Inst.  Wash.  269:  pi.  10,  f.  89;  pi.  H,  f.  96,  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  2:  f.  717;  Schelle,  Handb. 
Kakteenk.  41.  f.  2;  M5llers  Deutsche  Girt.  Zeit.  25:  475.  f.  9,  No.  21. 

Plate  VI,  figure  3,  represents  a  fruiting  branch  from  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near 
Sierra  Blanca,  Texas,  in  1913;  figure  4  shows  a  fruiting  branch  from  another  Texas  plant 
obtained  by  the  same  collector.  Figure  56  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal 
near  Tucson,  Arizona,  in  1913;  figure  57  represents  a  branch  with  young  leafy  shoots,  of  a 
specimen  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1913  at  Laredo,  Texas. 

4.    Opuntia  tesajo  Engelmann  in  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  448.     1896. 

Bushy,  3  dm.  broad  and  high;  joints  slender,  indistinctly  tuberculate,  2  to  5  cm.  long;  areoles 
5  to  6  mm.  apart;  leaves  awl-shaped,  2  to  4  mm.  long,  often  red;  spines  at  first  2,  small,  dark  brown, 
4  to  8  mm.  long,  either  erect  or  reflexed ;  later  a  long  central  spine  develops,  this  porrect,  5  cm.  long, 
yellow  near  the  tip;  flowers  yellow,  small,  1.5  to  1.8  cm.  long,  including  the  ovary;  style  whitish;  stigma- 
lobes  5,  yellowish. 

Type  locality:  In  Lower  California. 

Distribution:    Central  part  of  Lower  California. 

The  type  of  this  little-known  species  should  be  in  the  herbarium  of  the  Missouri 
Botanical  Garden,  at  St.  Louis,  but  it  can  not  now  be  found.  The  species  has  been  in  cul- 
tivation at  La  Mortola,  Italy,  but  it  does  not  do  well  under  cultivation.  Dr.  C.  A. 
Purpus,  who  has  collected  the  plant  in  Lower  California,  regarded  it  as  related  to  O.  ramos- 
issima,  claiming  that  the  stems  have  the  peculiar  marking  of  that  species.     This  relation- 


BRITTON   AND   ROSE 


1,  2.      Branches  of   Opuntia  mortolens 
3,  4.     Branches  of  Opuntia  leptocaulh. 


5.  Flowering  branch  of   Opuntia  arbuscula 

6.  Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  kleiniae. 
All  three-fourths  size 


OPUNTIA  49 

ship,  however,  is  not  shown  in  the  La  Mortoia  plant.  With  only  a  very  meager  description 
published  and  no  type  specimen  preserved,  it  is  difficult  to  decide  the  relationship  of  this 
species.  No  exact  type  locality  is  cited  for  it,  but  it  is  said  to  grow  "among  rocks,  especially 
towards  the  west  coast,  and  in  the  more  central  portions"  of  Lower  California,  where  it  was 
first  collected  by  W.  M.  Gabb  in  1867. 

We  refer  this  species  with  hesitation  to  the  series  Leptocaulis. 

Opuntta  tenajo  (Just's  Bot.  Jahresb.  24=:  380.  1896)  is  doubtless  an  error  in  spelling 
for  0.  tesdp. 


Fig.  59. — Opuntia  caribae;.  forming  dense  thickets. 
5.    Opuntia  caribaea  sp.  nov. 

Steins  ;  to  3  meters  high,  forming  thickets  in  open  woods  and  waste  grounds;  ultimate  joints 
horizontal,  5  to  10  cm.  long,  much  thicker  than  in  O.  leptocaulis ,  with  short,  elevated  tubercles;  areoles 
large,  bearing  white  wool  and  a  few  long  caducous  hairs ;  spines  1  to  3,  porrect,  acicular,  2  to  3  cm. 
long,  covered  with  thin,  brown,  papery  sheaths;  glochids  dark  brown;  leaves  small,  1  to  2  mm.  long, 
acute;  flowers  not  known;  fruit  red,  1.5  to  2  cm.  long,  usually  naked  but  sometimes  bearing  short  spines 
from  the  upper  areoles,  so  far  as  known  always  sterile. 

Very  common  on  the  cactus  plain  about  Azua  and  also  near  Barahona,  Santo  Domingo; 
collected  near  Azua,  March  1913,  by  Rose,  Fitch,  and  Russell  (No.  3837,  type)  ;  also  by  Paul 
Bartsch  in  Haiti,  1917;  also  on  the  northern  coast  of  Venezuela,  and  on  Margarita  Island,  and 
apparently  in  Trinidad,  as  indicated  by  a  colored  drawing  in  the  Kew  herbarium  received  in 
1825  from  David  Lockhart.  Dr.  Britton  endeavored  to  find  this  plant  in  Trinidad  in  1920  and 
1921  but  failed  and  he  could  not  learn  anything  about  it.  It  appears  probable  that  the  draw- 
ing sent  by  Mr.  Lockhart  to  Kew  in  1825  was  made  from  a  Venezuelan  plant. 

The  plant  grows  in  great  abundance  in  Santo  Domingo  with  other  cacti,  and  certainly 
appears  to  be  indigenous.  Its  nearest  relative  is  O.  Icptocauln.  from  which  it  differs  in  its 
greater  size,  thicker  joints,  and  larger  fruit. 

Figure  58  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Rose,  Fitch,  and  Russel  at  Azua, 
Santo  Domingo,  in  1913;  figure  59  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant  taken  by  Paul 
G.  Russell. 


50 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


6.  Opuntia  arbuscula  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  309.  1836. 
Opuntia  tieoarbuscula  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  260.  1908. 
Forming  a  bush  2  to  3  meters  high,  often  with  a  rounded,  very  compact  top  with  numerous  short 
branches;  trunk  short,  10  to  12cm.  in  diameter,  with  several  woody  branches;  ultimate  joints 
5  to  7.5  cm.  long,  8  mm.  in  diameter,  with  low,  indistinct  tubercles;  leaves  small;  spines  usually  1,  but 
sometimes  several,  especially  on  old  joints,  porrect,  up  to  4  cm.  long,  covered  with  loose  straw-colored 
sheaths;  flowers  greenish  yellow  tinged  with  red,  3  5  cm.  long;  fruit  often  proliferous,  sometimes  only 
one-seeded. 


.X.iM^M¥i^.\^Xi- 


%rw^^^^  .■  ■'.-. 


I        **     Jji-i"^^' 


<-^r 


■€-^, 


Fig.  60. — Opuntia  arbuscula. 

Type  locality:   On  the  lower  Gila  near  Maricopa  village. 

Distribution:   Arizona  and  Sonora. 

Opuntia  congesta  Griffiths  (Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  88,  pi.  2,  f.  4,  7;  pi.  8;  pi.  13,  f.  5. 
1909),  from  the  description,  is  near  this  species  and  probably  a  race  of  it. 

Races  of  the  species  differ  in  size,  in  armament,  in  the  length  of  the  tubercles,  and  in 
size  and  shape  of  the  fruit. 

Illustrations:  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  6,  f.  2;  Bull.  Torr.  Club  32:  pi.  9,  f.  3; 
Plant  World  11'":  f.  11;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard. 19:  pi.  22;  19:  pi.  23,  in  part,  this  last  as  Opun- 
tia neoarbuscula;  Carnegie  Inst.  Wash.  269:  pi.  II,  f.  95. 

Plate  VI,  figure  5,  represents  a  flowering  branch  from  Professor  J.  W.  Tourney's  collec- 
tion at  Tucson,  Arizona.  Figure  60  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  near 
Tucson,  Arizona,  in  I906;  figure  61  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  George  B.  Sudworth  in 
Santa  Rita  Mountains,  Arizona;  figure  62  shows  a  fruiting  branch  from  the  same  collection. 


1.  Leafy  branch  of  Opuntia  kleiniae.  4.    Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  echhiocarpa 

2.  Terminal  branch  of  Opunlia  vivipara.  5.    Fruiting  branch  of  Opuntia  versicolor. 

3.  Branch  o(  OpHittia  parryi.  (All   three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA. 


51 


Engclmaiin,  Pnic.  Anici 
cens   Griffiths,   Rep.   Mo 


Acad. 3:  308.      1856. 

Bot.   Gard.  20:    86.    1909. 


7.     Opunda  kleiniae  De  Candolle,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  118.      1828. 
Opiwtu 

OpKlllUl 

Stems  pale,  glaucous,  sometimes  2.5  meters  tall,  woody  at  base;  tubercles  long;  areoles  large,  a 
little  longer  than  wide,  filled  with  white  wool  from  the  very  first;  spines  usually  1,  but  sometimes 
more,  from  the  base  of  the  areole,  covered  with  yellow  sheaths,  on  old  joints  accompanied  by  several 
bristle-like  spines  from  the  lower  margin  of  the  areole;  glochids  yellow  to  brown;  leaves  linear,  15  mm. 
long,  .icute;  flowers  3  cm.  long,  purplish;  petals  broad,  rounded  at  apex;  fruit  red,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long, 
long  persisting;  seeds  4  to  5  mm.  bru.id. 


Fig.  62. — Opuntia  arbuscula.     XO.75. 


Type  locality:   In  Mexico. 

Dhtr'ihution:  Texas  to  central  Mexico. 

Opuntia  kleiniae  was  originally  described  as  without  tubercles  on  the  stems,  which  has 
raised  the  question  whether  the  plant  bearing  this  name  is  properly  referred;  in  this  respect 
O.  arbuscula  answers  the  description  better,  but  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  O.  arbuscula  could 
have  been  known  at  that  time. 

Opuntia  kleiniae  has  long  been  in  cultivation  and  is  to  be  seen  in  most  collections. 

In  1910  Dr.  Rose  collected  near  Alamos,  Mexico,  an  Opuntia  very  similar  in  habit  and 
joints  to  0.  kleiniae.  but  much  more  spiny. 

Opuntia  kleiniae  cristata  (Cat.  Darrah  Succ.  Manchester  55.  1908)  is  a  garden  form.  O. 
kleiniae  laetevirens  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  73.    1850)  is  only  a  name. 

Illustrations:  Abh.  Bayer.  Akad.  Wiss.  Miinchen  2: pi.  1,  sec.  7,  f.  9;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard. 
19:  pi.  21,  in  part;  20:  pi.  6,  in  part,  this  last  as  Opuntia  caerulescens. 

Plate  VI,  figure  6,  represents  a  flowering  branch  of  a  specimen  obtained  from  M.  Simon, 
of  St.  Ouen,  Paris,  France,  in  1901;  plate  vii,  figure  1,  represents  a  leafy  branch  of  a  specimen 
collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Ixmiquilpan,  Mexico,  in  1905. 

Two  remarkable  opuntias  were  collected  in  Lower  California  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1911,  but 
as  they  were  not  in  flower  or  fruit,  and  have  not  developed  flowers  since  they  were  brought 
into  cultivation,  we  are  unable  to  describe  them  fully;  they  are  doubtless  of  this  relationship 
and  their  characters  are  given  as  follows: 
Opuntia  sp. 

Stems  1.3  to  2  meters  high,  r.ulier  weak,  often  clambering  over  bushes,  10  mm.  in  diameter,  woody 
below,  pale,  when  dry  the  white  epidermis  peeling  off;  lateral  branches  numerous,  horizontal,  short  (2 


52  THE  CACTACEAE. 

to  6  cm.  long)  ;  areoles  on  old  stems  bearing  3  or  4  long  (2  to  4  cm.  long)  needle-like  brownish  spines; 
young  areoles  usually  with  a  single  spine  each,  filled  with  brown  wool ;  glochids  brown,  numerous  sheaths 
on  young  spines  straw-colored,  soon  deciduous;  flowers  and  fruit  unknown. 

Description  based  on  field  notes  and  on  living  and  herbarium  specimens. 

Collected  by  Dr.  Rose  on  Santa  Cruz  Island,  Gulf  of  California,  April  1,  1911  (No.  16845). 

Opuntia  sp. 

Procumbent,  forming  an  indeterminable  mass  of  spiny  branches,  3  to  10  dm.  in  diameter;  old  stems 
woody,  smooth,  brown,  and  shiny,  2  cm.  in  diameter;  branches  10  to  20  cm.  long,  bluish  green;  spines 
of  two  kinds;  the  2  to  4  principal  ones  long  (2  to  3  cm.  long),  needle-like,  at  first  covered  with  thin 
yellow  sheaths,  straw-colored  when  young,  becoming  purplish,  finally  fading  to  gray;  secondary  spines  4  to 
6,   radial,   inconspicuous:  glochids  brownish;   flowers  and  fruit  unknown. 

Description  based  on  field  notes  and  living  and  herbarium  specimens. 

Colleaed  by  Dr.  J.  N.  Rose  on  East  San  Benito  Island,  of?  the  coast  of  Lower  California, 
March  9,  1911  (No.  16085).  This  is,  doubtless,  the  plant  referred  to  by  Walton  (Cact.  Journ. 
2:  137.    1899)  as  O.  rciviosissii)ia,  but  it  is  not  that  species. 

Series  3.    THURBERIANAE. 
Bushy,  arborescent,  or  depressed  species,  with  slender  joints,  the  ultimate  ones  tuberculate,  about  2 
cm.  thick  or  less,  the  areoles  bearing  several  spines.     We   recognize  8  species.   7   of  them  natives  of  the 
southwestern  United  States  and  northern  Mexico,  and  1  in  Lower  California. 

Key  to  Species 

Bushy  or  arborescent  species,  6  dm.  high  or  higher. 
Tubercles  narrowly  oblong,   1   cm.  long  or  more. 

Joints  readily  detached 8.0.    tiripiim 

Joints  not  readily  detached. 

Longer  spines  2.5  cm.  long  or  longer. 

Flowers  orange  to  scarlet 9.   O.    letracanlha 

Flowers  purple 10.  O.  recondita 

Spines  2  cm.  long  or  less 11.   O.  ihiirbeii 

Tubercles  low,  oblong,  6  to  8  mm,  long 12.  O.  clatellina 

Depressed  species,  6  dm.  high  or  less. 

Spines  yellow  or  brown;  flowers  green  or  tinged  with  yellow. 

Spines  yellow,  up  to  5  cm.  long;  petals  1  to  1.5  cm.  long 13.   O.  dctvisii 

Spines  brown,  2.5  cm.  long  or  less;  petals  2  to  2.5  cm.  long 14.  O.   viridiflorj 

Spines  white ;  flowers  yellow 1 5.   O.    whipplei 

8.     Opuntia  vivipara  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  52:  153.      1908. 

Plant  2  to  3.5  meters  high,  usually  several  srrong  branches  from  the  base,  8  to  10  cm.  in  diame- 
ter, much  branched  above,  but  not  compactly  so;  old  stems  with  rather  smooth  bark;  young  branches 
bluish  green,  slender,  1  to  2  cm.  long,  10  to  12  mm.  in  diameter;  tubercles  low,  oblong,  15  to  20  mm. 
long;  areoles  when  young  bearing  a  dense  cushion  of  yellow  wool  with  few  or  no  glochids;  spines  1  to 
4,  2  cm.  long  or  less,  porrect  or  ascending,  covered  with  straw-colored  sheaths;  leaves  small,  rerete,  acut- 
ish,  purple ;  flowers  numerous,  borne  in  clusters  at  the  top  of  the  branches,  purplish ;  ovary  strongly 
tuberculate,  bearing  white  deciduous  bristles;  fruit  oblong,  4  to  6  cm.  long,  smooth,  with  a  somewhat 
depressed   umbilicus,   yellowish   green,   spineless;   seeds  white,  very  thick,  5  mm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Near  Tucson,  Arizona. 

Distribution:  Known  only  from  type  locality. 

The  relationship  of  this  species  is  doubtful;  it  resembles  certain  garden  forms  of 
O.  tetracantha,  but  differs  from  typical  forms  of  that  species  in  its  much  larger  fruit  and 
seeds,  different  armament,  and  habit.  The  type  grew  associated  with  O.  spinosior  and 
O.  versicolor,  but  there  is  no  indication  that  it  is  the  result  of  hybridization  of  those  species. 

Illustrations:  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  52:  pi.    12;  Plant  World  W":  f.  12. 

Plate  VII,  figure  2,  represents  a  branch  drawn  by  L.  C.  C.  Krieger  at  the  Desert 
Botanical  Laboratory,  Tucson,  Arizona;  plate  viii,  figure  1  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type 
plant  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  in  1908. 


rTON  a  ROSE 


'.;t\:--J 


1.  Type  plant  of  Ufuuiti.i  iju ■'.!!. i.  iK.ir  Tucson,  Arizona. 

2.  A  much-branched  plant  of  Upuntia  tersicolor. 


OPUNTIA. 


53 


is  doubtless  the  type. 
C.  C.  Krieger  at  the  Desert  Botanical 


9.  Opuntia  tetracantha  Tourney,  Gard.  and  For.  9:  432.      1896. 

Low  bush,  5  to  1 5  dm.  high,  brancning;  central  stem  woody,  5  to  8  cm.  in  diameter;  young 
joints  23  to  30  cm.  long,  10  to  15  mm.  in  diameter,  purplish;  tubercles  at  first  prominent,  elongated, 
16  to  22  mm.  long;  areoles  bearing  wool,  light  brown  glochids,  prominent  glands  and  spines;  spines 
3  to  6,  usually  4,  slender,  somewhat  deflexed,  2  to  3.5  cm.  long;  flowers  greenish  purple,  1.5  to  2  cm. 
broad;  fruit  2  to  2.5  cm.  long,  yellowish  orange  to  "scarlet,"  nearly  smooth,  but  rarely  bearing  a  few 
spines,  deeply  umbilicate;  seeds  3  to  5  mm,  broad,  with  irregular  faces  and  a  thick,  spongy  commissure. 

Type  locality:  Five  miles  east  of  Tucson,  Arizona. 

Distribnt'iou:  Known  only  from  the  region  about  Tucson,  Arizona. 

The  species  was  originally  compared  by  Mr.  Tourney  with  O.  thurberi,  with  which  he 
thought  it  to  be  closely  associated,  but  differing  in  "its  longer,  more  strongly  deflexed  spines, 
smaller  and  different-colored  flowers." 

The  type  specimen  was  not  indicated,  but  Totimey's  own  plant,  collected  in  1895,  which 
was  recently  purchased  by  the  U.  S.  National  Herbai 

Illustration:  Bull.  Torr.  Club  32:  pi.  9,  f.  2. 

Plate  IX,  figure   1,  shows  a  joint  painted  by  L. 
Laboratory,  Tucson,  Arizona. 

10.  Opuntia  recondita  Grifliths,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  23:  131.      1913. 

"A  stout  broad-branched  shrub,  1  to  1.5  meters  in  height;  trunk  cylindric,  4  to  7  cm.  in  diam- 
eter, with  constrictions  corresponding  to  each  year's  growth,  with  gray  bark,  and  having  a  few  lateral, 
easily  detachable,  weakly  spined  joints  about  10  cm.  long,  the  remaining  joints  being  20  to  30  cm. 
long,  very  spiny,  in  the  second  year  about  2  cm.  in  diameter,  tuberculate;  tubercles  forming  a  ridge, 
flattening  out  below,  above  extending  precipitously,  about  2  to  5  cm.  long,  5  to  6  mm.  wide,  and  4  to 

5  mm.   high,   remaining  recognizable  three  years,   and  then  disappearing;  areoles  broadly  obovate,  5  to 

6  mm.  in  the  longest  diameter,   in  age  becoming  larger  and  more   prominent,   forming  new  wool   for 
several  years;  glochids  yellow,  in  a  thick  3  mm.  long  cluster 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  areole,  also  smaller  clusters  on  the 
other  parts  of  the  areole,  mostly  at  the  base  of  the  longest 
and  most  central  spine ;  spines  first  2  to  4,  later  6  to  8  or 

10,  upright,  spreading,  2.5  to  5  cm.  long,  in  cross-section 
weakly  circular,  gray  at  the  base,  becoming  deep  reddish 
brown  at  the  tips,  surrounded  the  entire  length  by  a  loose, 
comparatively  bright  sheath;  between  the  spines  are  scattered 
a  few  dirty-black,  sheathless  bristles  about  6  mm.  long;  leaves 
subulate,  finely  tipped,  terete,  12  to  20  mm.  long. 

"Flowers  bright  purple,  when  open  about  2.5  cm.  in 
diameter;  petals  finely  and  irregularly  serrate,  inconspicu- 
ously but  finely  irregularly  notched;  sepals  thick,  triangular 
pointed,  greenish  purple,  anthers  greenish  with  purple  tinge ; 
pistil  greenish  at  base,  with  purple  tinge  above;  stigma-lobes 
6,  white;  ovary  obovoid,  tuberculate,  with  small  areoles,  2 
mm.  in  diameter,  short  greenish  brown  glochids  1  to  2  mm. 
long,  and  1,  2,  or  3  tsrown,  caducous  spines  sheathed  in 
part;  fruit  not  deciduous,  3  to  3.5  by  2  to  2.4  cm.,  large, 
greenish  yellow  with  a  reddish  tinge  on  the  outermost  side, 
only  weakly  tuberculate  in  the  second  year,  with  projecting 
brownish  glochids  3  mm.  long;  seeds  white,  thick,  mostly 
flat  but  often  lightly  angled  with  narrowly  thickened  edges, 
and  often  somewhat  concave." 

Type  Locality:  La  Perla,  Mexico. 

Distiibution:  Known  only  from  type  locality,  and, 
to  us,  only  from  the  description  of  which  the  above 
is  a  translation  by  Mr.  Russell. 

11.  Opuntia  thurberi  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  308.      1856. 

Large  bushy  plants,  2  to  4  meters  high;  joints  slender,  elongated,  1.5  to  2.5  dm.  long,  10  to  12 
cm.  in  diameter;  tubercles  1.5  to  2  cm.  long,  flattened  laterally;  leaves  linear,  6  to  8  mm.  long,  spread- 


FiG.  63.— Opun 


54  THE  CACTACEAE. 

ing;  spines  3  to  5,  short  (10  to  12  mm.  long),  spreading,  covered  with  thin,  brown,  papery  sheaths, 
the  lowest  one  stoutest;  flowers  3.5  cm.  broad,  brownish;  fruit  2  cm.  to  3  cm.  long,  spineless;  seeds 
nearly  globular,  4  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:  Bacuachi,  Sonora,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Western  coast  of  Mexico. 

Opuntia  thurberi  has  long  been  one  of  our  least-known  species.  The  type,  which  is 
but  a  fragment,  has  not  been  clearly  associated  with  any  recent  collections,  but  we  are 
disposed  now  to  believe  that  specimens  collected  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico  by  Dr.  Rose 
in  1910  belong  here.  If  we  are  correct,  it  ranges  from  Sonora  to  Sinaloa,  Mexico.  It  is 
sometimes  associated  with  Opuntia  versicolor  in  its  northern  range,  but  is  not  so  stout  and 
has  fewer  and  longer  spines. 

Figure  63  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  specimen. 

12.  Opuntia  clavellina   Engelmann  in  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  444.     1896. 

Plant  1  meter  high  or  less,  rather  openly  branched;  ultimate  joints  slender,  spreading  or  ascend- 
ing, somewhat  clavate,  5  to  10  cm.  long,  a  little  over  1  cm.  in  diameter;  tubercles  prominent,  elon- 
gated; spines  3  to  6  in  a  cluster,  very  long,  covered  with  loose  straw-colored  or  brown  sheaths,  the 
central  one  much  longer  and  porrect;  flowers  yellow;  fruit  clavate,  short,  tuberculate. 

Type  locality:  near  Mision  Purisima,  Lower  California. 

Distribution:  Interior  of  central  Lower  California. 

The  above  description  is  based  on  the  original  one  and  on  the  type.  If  the  plant  illus- 
trated as  cited  below  belongs  here,  this  is  a  very  distinct  species,  which  was  referred,  however, 
by  Mrs.  Brandegee  to  Opuntia  niolesta  Brandegee. 

Illustration:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  16:  pi.  129,  A.  Karsten  and  Schenck,  Vegetations- 
bilder  13:  pi.  18,  in  part. 

Of  this  series  there  is  another  peculiar  Lower  California  species,  perhaps  nearest  O. 
clavellina,  but  of  different  habit  and  spines.  It  also  suggests  O.  tetracantha  of  Arizona.  It 
was  obtained  first  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1911,  but  was  without  flowers  or  fruit.  It  may  be  char- 
acterized as  follows: 

Opuntia  sp. 

Stems  slender  (1  to  1.5  cm.  in  diameter),  weak,  often  clambering  over  bushes,  pale  green  in 
color,  terete,  pointed,  6  to  7  dm.  long;  areoles  set  on  low  tubercles,  circular;  chief  spines  2  to  6,  only 
slightly  spreading,  nearly  equal,  1.5  to  2.5  cm.  long,  clothed  with  loose  straw-colored  sheaths  (rose- 
colored  when  very  young)  ;  accessory  spines  3  or  4,  almost  bristle-like,  borne  from  the  lower  parts  of 
the  areoles;  glochids  short,  greenish  when  young,   yellow  in  age;  flowers  and  fruit  not  seen. 

Collected  by  Dr.  J.  N.  Rose  on  Cerralvo  Island,  off  southern  Lower  California,  April  19, 
1911  (No.  16875),  and  also  by  Nelson  and  Goldman  on  the  same  island  in  1906  (No.  7524). 

13.  Opuntia   davisii    Engelmann  and  Bigelow,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  305.      1856. 

Plants  low,  3  to  5  dm.  high,  much  branched,  their  dense  covering  of  straw-colored  spines  making 
them  conspicuous  objects  in  the  landscape;  terminal  joints  slender,  6  to  8  cm.  long,  about  1  cm.  in 
diameter,  strongly  tuberculate;  spines  6  to  12,  unequal,  the  longest  ones  4  to  5  cm.  long,  acicular. 
covered  with  thin  sheaths;  glochids  numerous,  yellow;  flowers,  including  ovary,  3.5  cm.  long;  petals 
olive-green  to  yellow,  broad,  with  rounded  mucronate  tips;  ovary  with  large  areoles  bearing  a  few 
spines  each;   fruit   3  cm.   long,   somewhat  tuberculate,  naked;  seeds  not  known. 

Type  locality:  Upper  Canadian,  about  Tucumcari  Hills,  near  the  Llano  Estacado. 

Distribution:  Western  Texas  and  eastern  New  Mexico. 

For  many  years  this  plant  was  not  collected  and  the  name  was  confused  with  other 
species,  so  that  at  one  time  it  was  supposed  to  extend  as  far  west  as  California.  It  is  now 
believed  to  have  a  rather  circumscribed  range.  It  is  first  seen  going  west  on  the  Texas  & 
Pacific  Railroad  about  Colorado,  Texas. 

The  plant  was  named  for  Jefferson  Davis,  who  was  Secretary  of  War  when  Whipple's 
report  was  made. 


1.    Joint  of  Opunlia  setracaniki.       1  to  5.    Flowering  joints  of  Opuntu  lersuoln 
6.     Proliferous  fruits  of  Opiintia  fitlg/Ja.  (All  three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA. 


55 


Illustrations:  Curtis's  Bot.  Mat>.   108:  pi.  6652;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  16. 
Figure  64  is  copied  from  the  second  illustration  above  cited. 
14.     Opunda  viridiflora  sp.  nov. 

A  low,  round,  bushy  plant  30  to  60  cm.  hi^^h ;  ttrminal  joints  5  to  7  cm.  lon,t;,  l.=i  to  2  cm.  thick, 
often  quite  fragile;  tubercles  prominent,  flattened  from  the  sides;  areoles  circular,  filled  with  short! 
yellow  or  dull-gray  wool ;  spines  5  to  7,  somewhat  spreading,  the  longest  ones  2  cm.  long,  dark  brown 
in  color;  glochids  numerous,  very  short,  yellow;  flowers  at  tips  of  branches  in  clusters  of  3  to  8,  3.5 
to  4.5  cm.  long  (including  ovary),  "green,  tinged  with  red";  fruit  strongly  tuberculate,  except  for  a 
few  long,  deciduous  bristles,  with  a  deep  umbilicus;  seeds  smooth,  white,  3  mm.  broad. 


Collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  altitude  about  2,225  meters,  by 
Paul  C.  Standley,  July  6,  1911  (No.  6493,  type)  and  at  the  same  locality  by  T.  D.  A.  Cock- 
erell  in  1912,  and  by  J.  N.  Rose  in  1913  (No.  18776).  It  is  quite  common  on  the  hills  just 
north  of  Santa  Fe  about  Fort  Matey,  where  it  is  one  of  the  dominant  plants,  but  it  was  not 
observed  elsewhere  in  that  region. 

This  species  differs  from  Opiintui  niihy'icatd  with  which  it  is  found,  in  its  much  lower 
stature,  more  bushy  habit,  in  its  branches,  spines,  and  smaller,  differently  colored  flowers, 
different  fruit,  and  smaller  seeds. 

Figure  65  represents  two  joints  of  a  specimen  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  the  type  locality 
in  1913. 

15.     Opuntia  whipplei  Engelmann  and  Bigelow,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  307.      1856. 
Opiintia  whipplei  laevror  Engelmann,   Proc.   Amer.  Ac.ul.  3;  307.      185(i. 

Low,  much  branched,  with  long,  fibrous  roots;  areoles  prominent,  flattened  laterally,  10  to  15  cm. 
long,  circular,    filled  with   light-btown   wool;   glochids  pale  yellow,  short;  spines  about  12,  the  longest 


56 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


about  2  cm.  long,  dark  brown,  covered  with  lighter  colored  papery  sheaths;  flowers  yellow,  small  (2 
cm.  broad)  ;  young  ovary  bearing  brown  spines  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves;  fruit  strongly  tuberculate, 
spineless,  2.5  to  4  cm.  long,  with  a  deeply  depressed  umbilicus,  sometimes  with  only  one  seed  but 
usually  many;  seeds  small,  4  mm.  broad,  smooth. 

Type  locality:  About  Zuni,  New  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Northern  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  to  southwestern  Colorado  and  prob- 
ably southern  Utah.  Also  reported  by  Coulter  in  southern  California,  Lower  California, 
and  Sonora,  but  not  to  be  expected  there. 

llliistratiou:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  24,  f.  9,  10.  Bull.  Agr.  Exper.  Sta.  N.  Mex.  78:  pi.  11, 
12,;  North  Amer.  Fauna  7:  pi.  9;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  17,  f.  1  to  4;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey 
4:  f.  2609. 

Figure  66  is  copied  from  the  first  illustration  above  cited. 


Fig.  6^. —  Opunti.i    if  miliucjrpa  in  the  forepmund.    Phutographed  by  MacDuugal. 

Series  4.  ECHINOCARPAE. 

Dry-fruited,    rather   stout-jointed,    bushy   or    depressed  species,    the   areoles   bearing  several   spines, 

the   flowers   red,   yellow,   or  yellowish.     Four  species,  inhabiting  the  southwestern  United  States,  Sonora. 

and  Lower  California. 

Key  to  Species. 

Tubercles  elongated,  2  to  3  times  as  long  as  wide. 

Fruit  long-spiny,  strongly  tuberculate 16.   O.  acanthocarpa 

Fruit  short-spiny,   little  tuberculate 17.   O.  partyi 

Tubercles  short,  less  than  twice  as  long  as  wide. 

Spines  with  white  or  straw-colored  sheaths 18.  O.    echinocarpa 

Spines   with  yellow-brown   sheaths 19.  O.  serpentina 


OPUNTIA.  57 

16.  Opuntia  acanthocarpa  Engelmann  and  Bigelow,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  308.     1856. 

Much  branched,  1.5  to  2  meters  high;  branches  becoming  woody,  alternate,  making  a  narrow 
angle  with  the  trunk;  terminal  joints  4  to  8  cm.  long,  strongly  tuberculate;  tubercles  elongated,  flat- 
tened  laterally;   spines   8   to   25,   acicular,   dark  brown,  covered  with  thin  and  lighter  colored  sheaths, 

2  to  3  cm.  long;  glochids  numerous,  yellow;  flowers  large,  red  to  yellow,  5  cm,  long,  and  when  fully 
open  nearly  as  broad;   ovary   rather  short,   turbinate,   with   few   prominent   tubercles;    fruit   dry,   about 

3  cm.  long,  naked  below,  tuberculate  above,  each   tubercle   crowned   by   a   cluster   of    10   to    12    stout 
spines;    umbilicus   broad   and   somewhat   depressed;  seeds  5  to  6  mm.  broad,  sharply  angular. 

Type  loccilit)':  On  the  mountains  of  Cactus  Pass,  Arizona,  about  500  miles  west  of 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 

D'iStYihiit'Knr.    Arizona  and  California;   reported  also  from  Utah,  Nevada,  and  Sonora. 

UlHStyjtinuM  N.  Amer.  Fauna  7:  pi.  7,  8;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  18,  f.  1  to  3;  pi.  24,  f.  11. 
Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2606;  Gartenwelt  11:  75. 

Figure  67  is  from  a  photograph  by  Dr.  MacDougal  of  a  plant  near  Pictured  Rocks, 
Tucson  Mountains,  Arizona. 

17.  Opuntia  parryi    Engelmann,  Amer.  Journ.  Sci.  II.  14:  339.    1852. 

C.utu!  parryi  Lemaire,  Cactees  88.     1868. 

Opuntia  bernardina  Engelmann  in  Parish,  Bull.  Turr.  Club  19:  92.  1892. 
Low  and  bush-like,  2  to  4  dm.  high;  joints  cylindric,  7  to  30  cm.  long  by  1.5  to  2  cm.  in  diameter, 
strongly  tuberculate;  tubercles  1  to  1.5  cm.  long;  areoles  rather  large,  bearing  light-brown  wool,  yel- 
low glochids,  and  spines;  spines  about  10,  dark  brown,  the  longer  ones  3  cm.  long,  covered  with 
loose"  sheaths ;  flowers,  several  near  together  at  ends  of  branches,  4  cm.  long;  sepals  greenish  or  dull 
red;  petals  yellow,  obtuse;  stigma-lobes  cream-colored;  ovary  tuberculate;  fruit  dry,  ovoid,  2  cm.  long, 
strongly  umbilicate,  when  mature  and  fertile  plump,  otherwise  more  or  less  tuberculate;  areoles  on  the 
f fuit "^large,   filled  with  wool   and  glochids,  those  at  top  of  fruit  often  with  short  spines;  seeds  white, 

4  to  6  mm.  broad,  beaked,  the  margins  channeled. 

Type  locality:  Near  San  Felipe,  eastern  slope  of  California  Mountains — San  Jacinto 
Mountains. 

Distribution:  Interior  valleys  of  southern  California. 

This  is  common  in  some  of  the  interior  valleys  of  southern  California,  although  its 
range  has  not  been  very  definitely  determined.  It  was  first  collected  by  Dr.  C.  C.  Parry 
in  1851  and  named  for  him  by  Dr.  Engelmann  in  1852;  but  when  the  latter  again  took  up 
this  name  a  few  years  later,  he  associated  it  with  a  very  different  species,  which  most  later 
writers  and  dealers  accepted  as  the  true  Opuntia  parryi.  Later  on  Dr.  Engelmann  segregated 
a  species  which  he  named  O.  bernardina,  including  therein  Parry's  specimen,  but  this  was 
not  published  until  after  his  death.  We  therefore  regard  O.  bernardina  as  a  synonym  of 
0.  parryi.  while  the  O.  parryi  of  most  collections  becomes  O.  parishii.  We  are  under  obli- 
gation to  Mr.  C.  R.  Orcutt  for  first  calling  our  attention  to  this  confusion. 

Mr.  Orcutt  thinks  that  this  species  is  near  O.  serpentina;  but  the  former  has  larger  flow- 
ers, different  spines,  much  less  spiny  fruit,  and  is  of  different  habit. 

Opuntia  bernardina  cristata  Schumann  (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  12:  20.  1902),  an  ab- 
normal form,  has  been  described. 

Plate  VII,  figure  3,  is  from  a  plant  collected  by  W.  T.  Schaller  at  Pala,  California, 
showing  a  leafy  joint. 

18.  Opuntia  echinocarpa  Engelmann  and  Bigelow,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  305.    1856. 

Opuiiiij  .ihnu.cjipa  major  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  .^05.     1856. 
Caciiii  Lchnnn.n piii  Lemaire,  Cactees  88.       1868. 

Opinit,.,  cchinnc.irpa  nuda  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  4-46.      1896. 
Opiinlia  ec/nnocarpa  parkeri  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  416.      1896. 
Opuntia  ecljinocarpa  robuslior  Coulter,   Contr.   U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  446.     1896. 
Opuntia  deserta  Griffiths,    Monatsschr.    Kakteenk.  23:  132.      1913. 
Plant   usually    low,    but    .sometimes    1.5    meters   high,   much  branched   and   widely  spreading,   witli 
.1  short  woody  trunk   2   to   3   cm.    in   diameter,   in   age    with    nearly    smooth    batk;    joints    short,    turgid. 


58 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


strongly  tuberculate;  spines  numerous,  when  young  bright  yellow,  when  older  brownish,  or  in  age  gray- 
ish, unequally  covered  with  thin  papery  sheaths;  flowers  yellowish,  but  the  sepals  often  tipped  with 
red;  ovary  short,  turbinate,  densely  spiny  especially  in  the  upper  part;  fruit  dry,  very  spiny;  seeds 
somewhat  angular,  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  In  the  Colorado  Valley  near  the  mouth  of  Bill  Williams  River. 

Distribution:  Nevada,  Utah,  Arizona,  California,  and  Lower  California. 

Coulter  has  described  three  varieties  of  this  species,  none  of  which  is  quite  typical,  but 
without  seeing  more  specimens  we  can  only  refer  them  all  to  the  species  proper.  His  variety 
par  key  i  seems  more  like  a  very  spiny  form  of  0.  parryi.  O.  parkeri  Engelmann  (Coulter, 
Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  446.    1896)  was  published  as  a  synonym. 

Mrs.  Brandegee  thought  Opinitia  echinocarpa  nitda  very  near  0.  alcahes,  if  not  identical 
with  it  (Erythrea  5:  122). 

Illustrations:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  18,  f.  5  to  10;  pi.  24,  f.  8;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  23: 
132,  the  last  as  Opuntia  desert  a. 

Plate  VII,  figure  4,  is  from  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  the  Salton  Sink,  California, 
showing  a  flowering  joint. 

19-     Opuntia  serpentina  Engelmann,  Amer.  Journ.  Sci.  II.  14:  338.      1852. 

Ceveus    catijoiincui   Torrey   and    Gray,    FI.    N.    Amer.   1:   555.     18-10.     Not  0/>«h/A(  f^/z/ocH/Vd  Engelmann. 

1848. 
Opuntia  califoniiai  Coville,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  13:  119.      1899. 

Ascending,  erect,  or  prostrate;  branches  slender,  2  to  2.5  cm.  in  diameter,  bluish  green,  strongly 
tuberculate;  leaves  minute;  tubercles  elevated,  1  to  1.5  cm.  long,  longer  than  broad,  flattened;  spines 
7  to  20,  brown,  covered  with  yellowish-brown  papery  sheaths  about  1  cm.  long;  glochids  light  brown; 
flowers  close  together  at  the  top  of  short  branches,  about  4  cm.  broad,  greenish  yellow,  the  outer  petals 
tinged  with  red;  ovary  strongly  tuberculate,  spiny,  with  a  depressed  umbilicus;  fruit  dry,  very  spiny. 

Type  locality:  Near  the  seacoast  about  San  Diego,  California. 

Distribution:  Southern  California  and  northern  Lower  California. 

Cactus  calijornicus  Nuttall,  although  given  in  the  Index  Kewensis 
(1:  367),  was  never  published  by  Nuttall,  although  he  did  have  the 
name  in  manuscript,  as  stated  in  Torrey  and  Gray's  "Flora"  in  the  place 
cited  above,  where  it  was  taken  up  as  a  Cereus. 

Figure  68  is  from  a  plant  collected  by  Mr.  G.  Sykes  near  San 
Diego,  California. 

Series  5.    BIGELOVIANAE. 

We  recognize  two  species  in  this  series,  natives  of  the  southwestern 
United  States  and  Lower  California.  They  are  low,  bushy  plants,  with  short 
definite  trunks  densely  covered  with  short,  stout,  very  spiny  branches,  the 
spines  white,  straw-colored,  or  yellow,  the  tubercles,  at  least  those  of  young 
shoots,  little  if  any  longer  than  broad,  and  considerably  elevated.  Their  fruits 
are  fleshy  berries. 

Key  to  Species. 

Larger  spines  numerous;  upper  tubercles  on  fruit  larger  than  lowe: 
Larger  spines  4  to  6;  tubercles  on  fruit  all  alike 


20.  O.    bigelov 

21.  O.    chibe 


Fig.  68. — Opuntia  ser- 
pentina.    X0.6(5 


20.     Opuntia  bigelovii  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  307.      1856. 

Usually  with  a  central,  erect  trunk,  1  meter  high  or  less,  with  short  lateral 
branches,  the  upper  ones  erect;  joints  usually  5  to  15  cm.  long,  very  turgid, 
with  closely  set  areoles  and  almost  impenetrable  armament;  tubercles  slightly 
elevated,  pale  green,  somewhat  4-sided,  about  as  long  as  broad,  1  cm.  broad  or  less;  spines,  as  well  as 
their  papery  sheaths,  pale  yellow;  flowers  several,  borne  at  the  tips  of  the  branches,  4  cm.  long  including 
the  ovary;  sepals  orbicular,  about  1  cm.  in  diameter,  tinged  with  red;  petals  about  1.5  cm.  long,  pale 
magenta  to  crimson;  ovary  2  cm.  long,  its  large  areoles  bearing  brown  wool  and  several  acicular  spines; 
fruit  usually  naked,  strongly  tuberculate,  the  upper  tubercles  larger  than  the  lower. 


OPUNTIA. 


59 


Type  locality:   Bill  Williams  River,  Arizona. 

Distribution:  Scnithern  Nevada,  Arizona,  California,  northern  Sonora,  and  northern 
Lower  California. 

Illustrations:  Ann.  Rep.  Bur.  Amer.  Ethn.  26:  pi  12;  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  16:  pi. 
128,  b;  Hornaday,  Camp-fires  on  Desert  and  Lava,  facing  p.  154;  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard. 
5:  f.  16;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  19;  Plant  World  11'":  f.  10.  MacDougal,  Bot.  N.  Amer.  Des.  pi. 
47;  Shreve,  Veg.  Des.  Mt.  Range  pi.  4;  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  16:  pi.  10;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort. 
Bailey  4:  f.  2607;  Karsten  and  Schenck,  Vegetationsbilder  4:  pi.  40,  B. 

Figure  69  is  from  a  photograph  by  Dr.  MacDougal  of  a  plant  in  Pima  Canyon,  Santa 
Catalina  Mountains,  Arizona;  figure  70  is  copied  from  the  Pacific  Railroad  Report  above 
cited. 

21.     Opuntia  ciribe  Ent^elmann  in  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  445.      1896. 

One  meter  high  or  less,  witii  numerous  stout  branches  densely  armed:  ultimate  joints  4  to  5  cm. 
in  diameter,   strongly  and   regularly  tuberculate,    3   cm.    in    diameter;    tubercles    about   as    long    as    broad 


Fig.  M. — Opuntia  hipel 


Fig.  70. — Opuntia  bigelovii. 


(5  to  7  cm.  broad)  ;  larger  spines  4  to  6,  stout,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  covered  with  loose  yellow  sheaths, 
accompanied  by  several  bristle-like  spines  or  hairs ;  glochids  numerous ;  flowers  yellow ;  ovary  some- 
what bristly;  fruit  strongly  tuberculate,  3  to  4  cm.  long,  spineless. 

Type  locality:  Comondu  and  Loreto  northward  to  beyond  Rosario,  Lower  California. 

Distribution:   Central  Lower  California. 

Opuntia  ciribe  is  near  0.  bigelovii,  but  differs  from  it  in  having  less  spiny  stems  and 
globular,  slightly  different  fruits. 

Figure  71  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  the  head  of  Con- 
cepcion  Bay,  Lower  California;  figure  72  is  from  a  drawing  of  a  joint  from  the  same  plant. 


60 


THE  CACTACEAfc. 


Fig.   72.— Opuntia  ciribe.     XO.! 


Series  6.   IMBRICATAE. 

The  typical  species  are  tall,  much  branched,  very  spiny.  The  terminal  joints  are  fleshy  and  strongly 
tuberculate,  the  tubercles  large  and  flattened  laterally.  The  fruit  is  either  smooth  or  strongly  tuber- 
culate.     We  recognize  8  species,  natives  of  Mexico  and  southwestern  United  States. 

Key  to  Species. 

Joints  cylindric;  tubercles  much  flatteneJ  laterally. 
Fruit  smooth  or  but  slightly  tuberculate. 

Branches  very  stout,  5  cm.  thick  or  more 11.  O.  cbolla 

Branches  relatively  slender,  2  cm.  thick  or  less. 

Plant  glaucous ;  spines  A  at  an  areole 23.  O.  cahnalliana 

Plant  not  glaucous;  spines  more  than  4  at   an  areole 2  i.  0.  versicolor 

Fruit  manifestly  tuberculate. 

Tall  species,  up  to  2  or  4  meters  high. 

Flowers  small;  petals  1.5  cm.  long 25.   O.  lloydii 

Flowers  large;  petals  2  to  3  cm.  long 26.  O.  hi/br/aiLi 

Low  species,  6  dm.  high  or  less. 

Flowers    yellow 27.  O.  tunicala 

Flowers    rose-colored 28.   0.  pallida 

Joints  clavate;  tubercles  not  much  flattened  laterally 29.   O.  molesia 

22.     Opuntia  cholla  Weber,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  1 :  320.      1895. 

Usually  tree-like,  1  to  3  meters  high,  with  a  definite  trimk  7  to  15  cm.  in  diameter;  trunk  very 
spiny  at  first  and  becoming  more  spiny  each  year  for  some  time,  but  in  age  spineless  and  developing  a 
smooth,  brownish  yellow  bark;  top  of  plant  often  dense  and  broad;  joints  often  in  whorls,  horizontal, 
pale,  with  large  compressed  tubercles;  spines  usually  numerous,  more  or  less  porrect,  covered  with  loose 
brownish  sheaths;  glochids  numerous,  yellow;  flowers  rather  small,  3  cm.  broad,  deep  purple;  fruit  often 
4  to  5  cm.  long,  usually  proliferous,  often  in  long  chains  of  8  to  12  individuals  or  forming  compound 
clusters;  seeds  numerous,  very  small,  often  abortive 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


61 


Type  locality:    In  Lower  California. 

Distribution:    Lower  California. 

This  is  one  of  the  commonest  opuntias  in  southern  Lower  California  and  was  usually 
seen  by  Dr.  Rose  at  every  locality  visited  south  of  Magdalena  Bay  on  the  west  coast  and  on 
the  east  coast  as  far  north  as  Muleje.  It  is  undoubtedly  the  plant  referred  to  O.  prolifera  by 
Mr.  Brandegee,  but  it  differs  in  habit  and  armament  from  that  species;  the  fruit  of  O.  pro- 
/ijei-ii  is  nearly  or  quite  devoid  of  seeds,  while  this  species  often  has  numerous  small  ones. 
In  this  species,  as  in  a  few  other  opuntias,  the  fruits  are  quite  proliferous,  hanging  on  for 
a  number  of  years  and  usually  remaining  green.  They  are,  however,  easily  detached,  and 
on  falling  to  the  ground,  readily 
take  root  and  start  new  colonies. 
Our  illustration  shows  some  of  the 
fruits  which  have  already  rooted 
and  have  developed  young  joints. 

The  plant  here  described  is 
the  true  "choUa"  of  the  people 
of  Lower  California,  and  is  the 
plant  cultivated  under  that  name 
by  A.  Berger  at  La  Mortola  from 
a  cutting  of  Weber's  type  speci- 
men, and  by  the  late  Mr.  Darrah 
at  Manchester,  England. 

Illustiuttiom:  Contr.  LI.  S. 
Nat.  Herb.  16:  pi.  128,  A;  Kar- 
sten  and  Schenk,  Vegetations- 
bilder  13:  pi.  17,  b. 

Figure  73  is  from  a  photo- 
graph of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr. 
Rose  at  Cape  San  Lucas;  figure 
74  represents  a  joint  of  the  same 
plant;  figures  75  and  16  represent 
its  proliferous  fruits  developing 
new  joints. 

OpHiilh,  chelLi  (Index  Kew.  Suppl. 
1:  302)  is  a  typographical  error 
for  O.  cholhi. 

23.     Opuntia   calmalliana   Coulter, 
Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  453. 

Fig.  73.— Opuntia  cliolla. 
""Habit  and  height  unknown;  joints 
cylindrical,    1    to   2   cm.    in   diameter, 

glaucous,  with  linear-oblong  crested  (mostly  distinct)  tubercles  20  to  25  mm.  long;  pulvini  densely  cov- 
ered with  yellowish  wool,  and  with  a  penicillate  tuft  of  whitish  bristles  at  upper  edge;  spines  usually  4, 
the  upper  one  stout  and  porrect,  reddish  with  yellowish  tip  (as  are  all  the  spines),  2  to  2.5  cm.  long 
(occasionally  1  to  2  short  upper  ones  added),  the  usually  3  (sometimes  4)  lower  ones  more  slender  and 
sharply  deflexed,  1  to  1.5  cm.  long  (occasionally  one  of  them  longer)  ;  flowers  apparently  purple;  ovary 
covered  with  very  prominent  woolly  pulvini  which  are  more  or  less  bristly  and  spiny,  but  ripening  into 
a  smooth  juicy  obovate  fruit ;  seeds  discoid  and  beaked,  irregularly  angular,  with  broad  commissure,  about 
4  mm.  broad."    (Coulter,  /.  c.) 

Type  locality:  Calmalli,  Lower  California. 

Distribution:  Lower  California. 

Type  in  the  Brandegee  Herbarium,  University  of  California. 


62 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


Referred  by  Mrs.  Brandegee  (Er)'thea  5:  122)  to  O.  n/o/estj  Brandegee.  It  is  closely 
related  to  O.  molesta,  but  its  spines  aie  different,  though  on  the  same  general  plan,  and  its 
seeds  are  quite  different. 


-Opuntia  c 


24.    Opuntia  versicolor  Engelmann  in  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  452.     1896. 

Opuntia  arhoiescens  versicolor  E.  Dams,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.   14:  3.    190-4. 

Bush  or  tree-like,  2  to  4  meters  high,  with  a  large,  open  top  sometimes  5  meters  broad ;  trunk  and 
larger  stems  woody  throughout,  except  the  younger  branches;  terminal  joints  10  to  20  cm.  long,  2.5 
cm.  in  diameter,  variously  colored,  not  strongly  tuberculate  when  living;  tubercles  1.5  cm.  long;  spines 
5  to  11,  5  to  25  mm.  long,  dark  colored,  with  close-fitting  sheaths;  glochids  reddish  brown;  flowers 
variously  colored,  yellow,  greenish,  reddish,  or  brown,  3  to  5.5  cm.  broad;  ovary  tuberculate,  with  large 
areoles  bearing  wool,  glochids,  and  long  deciduous  bristles ;  fruit  persisting  for  months,  sometimes  for 
a  year,  2.5  to  4  cm.  long,  at  first  somewhat  ruberailate,  becoming  pear-shaped  or  globose,  sometimes  pro- 
liferous ;  seeds  white,  5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Tucson,  Arizona. 

Distribution:   Arizona  and  northern  Mexico. 

This  species  is  common  on  the  lower  foothills  and  is  only  rarely  found  on  the  mesas. 
It  is  of  slow  growth,  propagating  almost  entirely  from  seed.  As  the  name  suggests,  it  has 
flowers  of  many  colors;  each  plant  has  its  own  color  and  the  color  of  the  flowers  is  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  paralleled  in  that  of  the  branches.  The  contrast  in  color  shown  by  a 
colony  of  these  plants  is  very  striking  and  one's  first  impression  is  that  more  than  one  species 
exists. 

Named  specimens  of  this  species  were  distributed  by  the  late  Dr.  C.  G.  Pringle  in  1881, 
but  the  species  was  not  published  until  1896. 

Illustrations:  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  6,  f.  1;  Bull.  Torrey  Club  32:  pi.  9,  f. 
4  to  8;  Hornaday,  Camp-fires  on  Desert  and  Lava,  pi.  facing  p.  18,  116,  320;  N.  Mex.  Agr. 
Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  6,  f.  1;  Plant  World  11":  f.  8;  Sargent,  Man.  Trees  N.  Amer.  f.  561; 
Carnegie  Inst.  Wash.  269:  pi.  8,  f.  81;  pi.  9;  MacDougal  Bot.  N.  Amer.  Des.  pi.  58;  Plant 
World  9'':  f.  50. 

Plate  VII,  figure  5,  represents  a  fruiting  joint;  plate  VIII,  figure  2,  is  from  a  photo- 
graph taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  near  the  base  of  the  Santa  Catalina  Mountains,  Arizona; 
plate  IX,  figures  2  to  5,  are  paintings  made  at  the  Desert  Laboratory,  Tucson,  Arizona,  by 
Kako  Morita,  showing  the  range  in  color  of  the  flowers. 


OPUNTIA.  63 

25.    Opunda  lloydii  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  292.     1909. 

Much  branched,  2  to  3  meters  high  and  nearly  as  broad ;  joints  terete,  2  cm.  in  diameter ;  tubercles 
prominent,  oblong;  spines  few,  on  last  year's  joints  3,  reddish,  1.5  cm.  long;  leaves  terete,  6  to  8  mm. 
long;  flowers  3  cm.  long,  opening  after  midday;  petals  15  mm.  long,  dull  purple;  filaments  olive-green 
below,  purplish  above;  style  rose-colored;  stigma-lobes  white ;  ovary  yellowish,  strongly  tuberculate,  naked ; 
fruit  3  cm.  long,  yellow  to  orange,  slightly  tuberculate. 

Type  locality:  On  foot  slopes,  Hacienda  de  Cedros,  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Central  Mexico. 

According  to  F.  E.  Lloyd,  for  whom  this  species  was  named,  it  is  known  to  the  Mexi- 
cans as  tasajo  macho. 

We  have  had  this  plant  in  cultivation  for  several  years,  but  it  does  not  grow  well  under 
glass;  these  specimens  have  white  areoles;  no  glochids  are  developed  the  first  year,  but  on 


Fig.  77.— Opuntia  Lioydn  Fic.  "S.      Opunti.i  LInydii.    Ph..i..j;r.irh  hy  F.  E. 

old  branches  dark-brown  bunches  of  glochids  are  developed  in  the  upper  edges  of  the  areoles, 
and  the  several  brownish  spines  are  acicular. 

Illustration:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  f.  34;  pi.  25. 

Figure  77  represents  rwo  joints  of  the  type  specimen;  figure  78  is  from  a  photograph  of 
the  type  plant. 

26.     Opuntia  imbricata   (Haworth)    De  CandoUe,  Prodr.  3:  471.    1828. 
Cereus  imbiicutiis  Haworth,   Rev.   PI.   Succ.   70.    1821. 
Cactus  cylindricti!  James,  Cat.   182.     1825.    Not  Lamarck.    1783. 

Cactus  bleo  Torrey,  Ann.   Lye.  N.  Y.  2:   202.    1828.    Not  Humboldt,   Bonpland,  and  Kunth.    1825. 
Opuntia  roseaVit  CandoUe,  Prodr.  3:  471.   1828. 

Opmit'ui  JcciptLUs  De  CandoUe,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  118.    1828. 
Opunl:.iL\ini,Li  Dc  Cmdolle,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  118.    1828. 
Opuniij  cxuiuLi  .iii,K»it/or  De  CandoUe,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:   118.    1828. 
OpunlijcxiaiM.i    tpniosior  De   CandoUe.   Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris   17:   118.    1828. 
Opuntia  exuiial.1  stellata  Lemaire.  Cact.  Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  67.    1839. 
Opuntia  exuviata  viridior  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hon.  Dyck.  1844.  48.    1845. 
Opuntia  arhorescens  Engelmann  in   Wislizenus,  Mem.  Tour  North.  Mex.  90.    1848. 
Opuntia  ivihricata  crassior  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.   Hort.  Dyck.   1849.  249.    1850. 
Opuntia  imbricata  ramosiur  Salm-Dyck,  Cacr.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  73.    1850. 
Opuntia  imbricata  tenuior  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  73.    1850. 
Cactus  imhricatu^  Lemaire,  Cactees  88.    1868. 


64 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


Opunliaiexam  Gritfitlis,   Rep.   Mo.   Boi.  Gard.   22:  28.    1912. 
Opuntiama^na  Griffiths,  Pn.c.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  27:  23.    1914. 
Opuntia  spinotecta  Griffiths,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  27:  24.    1914. 

Tree-like,  often  3  meters  high  or  higher,  with  a  more  or  less  definite  woody  trunk  2.5  cm.  in 
diameter;  ultimate  joints  2  to  3  cm.  in  diameter,  strongly  tuberculate;  leaves  8  to  24  mm.  long,  terete; 
tubercles  2  to  2.5  cm.  long,  flattend  laterally;  spines  8  to  30,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  brown,  covered  with 
papery  sheaths;  flowers  borne  at  ends  of  branches,  4  to  6  cm.  long,  sometimes  8  to  9  cm.  broad,  purple; 
ovary  tuberculate,  bearing  a  few  bristles  from  some  of  the  upper  areoles;  fruit  naked,  yellow,  2.5  to  3 
cm.  long,  strongly  tuberculate  or,  when  long  persistent,  smooth;  seeds  2.5  to  3.5  mm.  in  diameter. 

T'Spe  locality.    Unknown;  introduced  into  England  by  Loddiges  in  1820. 

Distribution:  Central  Colorado  to  Texas,  Oklahoma,  New  Mexico,  and  central  Mexico. 
Rdyberg  (Fl.  Rocky  Mountains  576.  1917)  reports  this  species  from  Utah  under  the  name 
of  Opuntia  arborescois ;  we  have  seen  no  specimens  of  it  from  Utah. 

The  plant  is  hardy  in  southwestern  Kansas,  and  has  been  recorded  as  a  native  of  that 
State;  it  has  existed  through  three  winters  out  of  doors  at  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden, 
but  has  made  little  growth. 

We  have  followed  Schumann  and  Weber  in  uniting  Opuntia  arbonsctns  and  O.  inibri- 
cata.  As  thus  treated,  the  species  has  a  wide  geographic  distribution,  and  in  our  view 
consists  of  many  slightly  differing  races.  In  its  northern  limits  it  is  much  smaller  than  in 
its  southern  range. 

Opuntia  cristata  tenuior  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  A^.  1845,  name  only), 
0.  decipiens  major  Hort.  in  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort  Dyck.  1844.  49.  1845,  as  synonym),  O. 
cristata  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  50.  1842),  and  O.  stellata  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort. 
Dyck.  50.  1842)  are  unpublished  names.    O.  ruthei  is  a  garden  name  mentioned  by  Berger. 

Opuntia  exuviata  major  (Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  49.  1845)  is  an  unpublished 
name. 

Opuntia  carclenche  Griffiths  (Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  259.  pi.  21,  in  part.  1908)  is 
described  as  standing  between  Opuntia  kleiniae  and  O.  imbricata,  being  stouter  than  the 
one  and  more  slender   than  the  other.    It  resembles  very  closely  specimens   collected   by 


OPUNTIA.  65 

Dr.  Rose  at  Ixmiquilpan,  Mexico,  in  1903,  which  we  have  referred  to  O.  kleiuiae. 

Opuntia  galeottii  de  Smet  (Miquel,  Nederl.  Kruidk.  Arch.  4:  337.  1858)  and  O.  coi- 
tigera  Miquel  (Nederl.  Kruidk.  Arch.  4:  338.  1858),  if  really  from  Mexico,  may  belong 
here,  but  the  descriptions  are  indefinite.    Dr.  Schumann  did  not  know  them. 

Opuntia  mendociensas  (Cat.  Darrah  Succ.  Manchester  56.  1908)  is  said  to  be  "prob- 
ably only  a  form  of  O.  inibricata." 

Opuntia  undulata  Link  and  Otto  (Verh.  Ver  tieford.  Gartenb.  6:  434.  1830)  was  not 
published.    According  to  Pfeiffer,  it  is  the  same  as  O.  exuviata,  which  we  refer  here  . 

Opuntia  decipiens  minor  (Pfeiffer,  Enuni.  Cact.  172.    1837)  is  unpublished. 

Cactus  subquadrijlorus  Mociiio  and  Sesse  (De  CandoUe,  Prodr.  3:  471.  1828),  given 
as  a  synonym  of  Opuntia  rosea,  doubtless  belongs  here.  Schumann's  reference,  C.  quadrif- 
lorus,  is  incorrect.    C.  subquadrifolius  (Cactaceae  3:  65)  is  a  clerical  err(;r 


Illustrations  Agr  C,  iz  N  S  W  22:  pi.  opp.  p.  696;  Bull,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:  pi.  5; 
pi.  6,  f.  1;  Cact  Mcx  Bound  pi  ly  f.  7,  8,  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  135:  pi.  8290;  N.  Mex. 
Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  7,  f.  2;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  134;  Mem.  Mus.  Hist. 
Nat.  Paris  17:  pi.  15;  W.  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  f.  85,  the  last  three  as  Opuntia  rosea.  W. 
Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  f.  8,  in  part,  this  as  Opuntia  decipiens.  Ann.  Rep.  Bur.  Amer.  Ethn. 
26:  pi.  8,  f.  a;  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  75,  f.  16,  17;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  34:  f.  36;  Gard. 
and  For.  9:  f.  1;  lUustr.  Fl.  2:  f.  2533;  ed.  2.  2:  f.  2992;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  78: 
pi.  [10};  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  17,  f.  5,  6;  pi.  18,  f.  4;  pi.  24,  f.  12;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22: 
pi.  7,  in  part;  all  as  Opuntia  arborescens.  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  pi.  6,  7,  in  part,  these 
two  as  Opuntia  vexans.  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  Suppl.  179.  f.  195,  as  Opuntia  decipiens; 
Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  4:  581.  f.  52,  as  O.  rosea;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2608;  Eng- 
ler  and  Drude,  Veg.  Erde  13:  f.  28,  in  part;  Gartenwelt  4:  159,  as  O.  arborescens;  Bot.  Jahrb. 
Engler  58:  Beibl.  1^29:  33.  f.  10. 

Plate  XI,  figure  1,  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  W.  L.  Bray  in  western 
Texas.  Figure  79  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Professor  F.  E.  Lloyd  in  Zacatecas,  Mex- 
ico, in  1908. 

27.    Opuntia  tunicata   (Lehmann)   Link  and  Otto  in  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact,  170.     1837. 
Cactus  tunicalus  Lehmann,  Ind.  Sem.  Hort.  Hamb.  6.    1827. 
Opuntia  stapeliae  De  Candolle,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  117.    1828. 
Opuntia  hystrix  Grisebach,  Cat.  PI.  Cub.   117.     1866. 
Opuntia  perrita  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.   Bot.  Gard.   22:  33.    1912. 


66  THE   CACTACEAE. 

Very  variable,  sometimes  low  and  spreading  from  the  base  and  terming  broad  clumps,  at  other 
times  5  to  6  dm.  high,  with  a  more  or  less  definite  woody  stem  and  numerous  lateral  branches;  joints 
easily  detached,  sometimes  short  and  nearly  globular  to  narrowly  oblong,  10  to  15  cm.  long,  strongly 
tuberculate;  spines  reddish,  normally  6  to  10,  elongated,  4  to  5  cm.  long,  covered  with  thin,  white, 
papery  sheaths;  flowers  3  cm.  long,  yellow;  petals  obtuse;  ovary  often  bearing  long  spines  at  the 
areoles,  but  usually  naked. 

Type  locality:   In  Mexico. 

Distribiitioti:    Highlands  of  central  Mexico;  also  in  Ecuador,  Peru,  and  northern  Chile. 

Opuntia  stapdiae  has  long  puzzled  collectors  and  students  of  cacti.  We  are  convinced 
now  that  it  is  only  starved  or  stunted  greenhouse  specimens  of  the  common  O.  tunicatti. 
When  grown  in  cultivation,  O.  tunic  at  a  takes  on  abnormal  shapes,  for  the  joints,  which 
break  off  easily,  rarely  grow  to  their  full  size.  In  its  native  home  many  small  dwarf  plants  are 
found  everywhere  about  the  larger  plants.  We  have  discussed  this  explanation  of  O.  stapeliae 
with  Mr.  A.  Berger,  and  he  agrees  with  our  conclusion. 

No  specimens  of  the  type  of  O.  stapeliae  are  preserved  in  the  De  CandoUe  Herbarium. 
The  plant  figured  as  Opuntia  stapeliae  ( ?)  by  Goebel  in  Pflanzenbiologische  (f.  36)  does  not 
belong  here.  It  is  erect,  has  strongly  tuberculate  joints,  very  short  spines  and  narrow  elongated 
leaves. 

Cereus  tunicatus  (Pfeifi'er,  Enum.  Cact.  170.  1837)  is  given  as  a  synonym  of  Opuntia 
tunicata,  but  has  never  been  formally  taken  up. 

We  believe  Opuntia  hystrix  Grisebach,  collected  by  C.  Wright  in  Cuba,  belongs  here, 
probably  being  an  escape  from  a  garden.  Dr.  Rose  examined  the  specimens  in  the  Krug  and 
Urban  Herbarium  in  Berlin  in  1912;  the  loose  sheaths  of  the  spines  of  these  specimens  are 
now  brown,  while  the  flowers  seemed  a  little  smaller  than  those  of  the  Mexican  specimens. 
The  flowers  were  described  as  red. 

Opuntia  furiosa  Wendland  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  170.  1837)  is  referred  to  0.  tunicata 
by  Pfeiffer,  while  Salm-Dyck  refers  it  to  his  variety  0.  tunicata  laerior  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck. 
1849.  73.  1850). 

Illustrations:  Bull.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:pl.  4;  Cact.  Journ.  1:  October;  The  Garden  62: 
423;  Safford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1908:  pi.  10,  f.  5;  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  2; 
Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  pi.  13,  14,  these  two  as  Opuntia  peirita.  Garden  13:  107*,  as  Opun- 
tia exuviata:  MoUers  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  7;  Goebel,  Pflanz,  Schild.  1:  f. 
36,  as  0.  Stapeliae;  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  10:  pi.  17,  f.  A. 

Plate  X,  figure  1,  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Cuzco,  Peru. 
Figure  80  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  same  plant. 

28.  Opuntia  pallida  Rose,  Smiths.    Misc.  Coll.  50:  507.    1908. 

Stems  5  cm.  in  diameter,  about  1  meter  high,  with  widely  spreading  branches,  the  whole  plant 
often  broader  than  high;  old  areoles  very  spiny,  often  bearing  20  spines  or  more,  often  3  to  4  cm.  long, 
with  white,  papery  sheaths;  young  areoles  bearing  few  spines;  ovary  tuberculate,  the  areoles  either 
naked  or  bearing  a  few  bristly  spines ;  flowers  pale  rose-colored :  petals  1  5  mm.  long. 

Type  locality:    Near  Tula,  Hidalgo,  Mexico. 

Distribution:    State  of  Hidalgo,  Mexico. 

This  species  is  known  only  from  near  Tula,  Mexico,  where  it  was  discovered  by  Dr. 
J.  N.  Rose  in  1905,  and  afterwards  collected  near  the  same  station  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson. 
It  grows  interspersed  with  O.  imbricata,  but  is  much  lower  in  stature  and  has  smaller  leaves 
and  lighter-colored  flowers.  It  is  much  like  O.  tunicata,  but  that  species  has  yellow  flowers  and 
is  always  smaller. 

Illustration:   Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  10:  pi.  17,  A. 

Figure  81  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  specimen. 

29.  Opuntia  molesta  Brandegee,  Proc.  Cal.  Acad.  II.  2:  164.    1889. 

Stems  1  to  2  meters  high,  or  in  cultivation  only  6  dm.  high,  with  few,  long,  spreading  branches; 
joints  clavate  to  subcylindric,   10  to  40  cm.   long,  sometimes  as  much  as  4  cm.  in  diameter  at  the  top, 

'This  illustration  is  very  poor  and  is  only  tentatively  referred  here.  If  native  to  California,  as  one  might  infer  from  the  account 
which  accompanies  the  illustration,  it  may  refer  to  a  form  of  Opuntia  prolijera  or  O.  echinocarpa. 


Joint  of  Opu 


2  to  5.    Joints  of  Opunlh, 
(All  three-fourths  size.) 


OFIINTIA. 


67 


pale  green,  with  low,  broad  tubercles,  these  elongated  and  often  4  cm.  long  or  more;  leaves  linear,  10 
mm.  long  or  less;  spines  few,  6  to  10,  unequal,  the  longest  ones  2.5  to  5  cm.  long,  straw-colored,  with 
loose,  papery  sheaths;  flowers  purple,  5  cm.  in  diameter;  fruit  ovoid,  2.5  cm.  long,  somewhat  spiny  or 
naked ;  seeds  6  mm.  in  diameter,  irregular  in  shape. 

Type  locality:   San  Ignacio,  Lower  California. 

Distribution:    Lower  California. 

The  type  of  the  species  is  deposited  in  the  Brandegee  Herbarium,  now  a  part  of  the 
herbarium  of  the  University  of  California.  Living  plants  have  been  distributed  by  A.  Berger 
from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  and  are  now  to  be  found  in  various  collections. 

In  the  Index  Kewensis,  first  supplement,  this  species  is  wrongly  entered  as  Opiiutia 
mode  St  al 

Figure  82  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  sent 
from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  to  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden  in  1913. 

Series  7.  FULGIDAE. 

Much  branched,  bushy  plants,  usually  with  the  terminal 
joints  very  fleshy,  the  tubercles  broad  and  low,  about  as  broad 
as  long.  The  species,  of  which  we  recognize  five,  inhabit 
the  southwestern  United  States  and  western  Mexico. 

Key  to  Species 

Joints  very  readily  detached,  freely  falling 30.   O.  julgida 

Joints  not  very  readily  detached,  persistent. 
Spines  brown  or  reddish,  at  least  at  base. 

Branches  slender;  fruit  not  proliferous.  .  .  .31.   O.  spinoiior 

Branches  stout;  fruit  proliferous .32.   O.  proliferd 

Spines  white  or  yellow. 

Spines  white;  petals  greenish  yellow,  1  cm. 

long  or  less 33.   O.  alcahes 

Spines  yellow;  petals  red,  2  cm.  long 34.   O.  burrageana 

30.  Opuntia  fulgida  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  306. 

1856. 

Opuntia  mamillata  Schott  in   Engelmann,   Proc.   Amer. 

Acad.  3:  308.     1856. 
opuntia  fulgida  mamillata  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.   Nat. 
Herb.  3:  4-49.      1896. 

Plant  sometimes  3  meters  high  or  even  more,  with  a 
rather  definite  woody  trunk  10  to  20  cm.  in  diameter,  much 
branched,  sometimes  almost  from  the  base,  and  forming  a 
compact  flattened  crown;  terminal  joints  10  to  20  cm.  long, 
3  to  5  cm.  in  diameter,  very  succulent,  strongly  tuberculate, 
easily  breaking  off;  spines  2  to  12,  yellowish  to  brown,  2.5 
to  3.5  cm.  long,  acicular,  covered  with  loose,  papery  sheaths; 
glochids  small,  whitish  to  light  yellow;  flowers  light  rose,  2.5  fig.  s:.— Opuntia  moiesta. 

to  3  cm.  broad ;  petals  few,  obtuse ;  stamens  and  style  very 

short;  fruit  at  first  tuberculate,  in  age  smooth,  somewhat  pear-shaped,  2  to  5  cm.  long,  green,  usually 
very  proliferous ;  seeds  rather  small,  4  mm.  broad,  often  wanting. 

Type  locality:   Mountains  of  western  Sonora,  Mexico. 

Distribution:    Gravelly  and  sandy  situations,  southern  Arizona,  Sonora,  and  Sinaloa. 

We  consider  O.  mamillata  as  synonymous  with  0.  \ulgida:  in  herbarium  and  green- 
house specimens  we  can  find  no  constant  differences.  Professor  J.  J.  Thornber,  who  has  long 
studied  this  group,  says  there  is  no  difference  between  the  flowers  and  fruits,  and  that  there 
is  no  difference  in  distribution  (Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  501).  In  the  field,  however, 
one  can  see  two  rather  distinct  forms  which  differ  in  armament,  the  typical  plant  being  the 
more  spiny. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  opuntias  of  southern  Arizona,  being  very  abun- 
dant on  the  valley  slopes  and  lower  foothills.  It  often  forms  dense  colonies  almost  to  the 
exclusion  of  other  cacti,  or  it  may  be  associated  with  other  species,  especially  of  Opuntia. 
It  is  a  most  troublesome  plant  to  come  in  contact  with,  for,  as  the  sharp,  barbed  spines 


68  THE  CACTACEAE. 

pierce  the  tlesh,  the  joints  easily  break  loose  from  the  plant  and  are  detached  with  difficulty 
from  the  unfortunate  victim. 

The  flowering  season  extends  from  early  spring  to  September.  The  fruit  is  markedly 
proliferous,  often  developing  in  chains,  and  so  persisting  for  several  years,  possibly  eight  or 
ten  years,  as  suggested  by  Professor  D.  S.  Johnson.  They  grow  in  chains  of  8  or  9  fruits  (12 
to  14  have  been  reported),  several  chains  hanging  from  a  single  joint  and  forming  a  large 
cluster.  We  have  seen  as  many  as  38  fruits  (40  to  50  have  been  reported)  in  a  single  clus- 
ter, and  doubtless  under  favorable  conditions  many  more  would  be  found.  These  juicy  fruits, 
usually  spineless,  are  much  sought  by  grazing  animals. 

According  to  Professor  Johnson,  who  has  studied  this  species  several  years,  the  seeds 
are  not  known  to  germinate  in  nature.  Only  by  cutting  away  a  part  of  the  hard,  bony  coat 
could  they  be  made  to  germinate  in  the  greenhouse.  The  species  is  propagated  easily  by 
the  terminal  joints,  which  come  off  readily  and  are  transported  far  and  wide  like  burs,  and 
soon  strike  root  on  reaching  the  soil.  New  plants  are  also  started  occasionally  by  the  fruits 
themselves. 

This  species  appears  to  hybridize  with  O.  sp'uios'iur. 

lllustyat'ions:  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  1,  f.  2;  Bull.  Torr.  Club  32:  pi.  9,  f .  1 ; 
Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  75,  f.  18;  Gard.  and  For.  8:  f.  AG;  Hornaday,  Camp-fires  on  Desert 
and  Lava  opp.  p.  42,  320;  Lumholtz,  New  Trails  in  Mex.  opp.  p.  18;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk. 
18:  153;  Nat.  Geogr.  Mag.  21:  710;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  6,  f.  2;  Plant  World 
11":  f.  1,  in  part;  11":  f.  9,  in  part;  Sargent,  Man.  Trees  N.  Amer.  f.  559;  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  5,  f.  1;  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  75,  f.  19;  Lumholtz,  New  Trails  in  Mex.  opp. 
p.  152;  Nat.  Geogr.  Mag.  21:  710;  Plant  World  11":  f.  1,  in  part;  11":  f.  9,  in  part,  the  last 
six  as  Opuntia  luciiii'dlata;  Carnegie  Inst.  Wash.  269:  Frontispiece;  pi.  1  to  7;  pi.  8,  f.  76  to 
79;  pi.  12.  MacDougal,  Bot.  N.  Amer.  Des.  pi.  57,  as  Opuntia  nhimillata:  McDougal,  Bot. 
N.  Amer.  Des.  pi.  87. 

Plate  IX,  figure  6,  represents  the  proliferous  fruit;  plate  XII,  figure  1,  is  from  a  photo- 
graph taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  showing  the  typical  plant  to  the  left 
and  the  less  spiny  plant  to  the  right. 

31.    Opuntia  spinosior   (Engelmann)  Tourney,  Bot.  Gaz,  25:  119.    189H. 
Opuntia  uhipplei   spinosior  Engelmann,   Proc.  Am£r.  Acad.  3:307.    1856. 

Plants  2  to  4  meters  high,  tree-like  in  habit,  with  a  more  or  less  detinite,  woody  trunk,  openly 
branched;  ultimate  joints  1  to  3  dm.  long,  1.5  to  2.5  cm.  in  diameter,  often  bright  purple,  strongly 
tuberculate;  tubercles  about  6  to  12  mm.  long,  longer  than  broad,  more  or  less  flattened  laterally;  spines 
6  to  12,  but  on  old  branches  sometimes  as  many  as  25,  10  to  15  mm.  long,  divergent,  gray  to  brown- 
ish, covered  with  thin  sheaths;  giochids  yellowish  white;  flower-buds  short,  acute;  flowers  5  to  6  cm. 
broad,  purple  to  pink,  yellow,  or  even  white;  petals  about  10,  broad  at  apex,  narrowed  at  base;  style 
thick,  cream-colored  or  pinkish;  ovary  tuberculate,  bearing  small,  purple  leaves  and  long,  white,  easily 
detached  bristles;  fruit  strongly  tuberculate,  spineless,  yellow,  globose  to  broadly  oblong,  2.5  to  4  cm. 
long,  with  a  depressed  umbilicus;  seeds  white,  4  mm.  broad,  smooth,  with  a  very  indistinct  marginal 
band. 

Type  loccility:   South  of  the  Gila  River. 

Distributio)i:    Arizona,  western  New  Mexico,  and  nt)rthern  Mexico. 

Opuntia  spinosior  neoniexicana  (Tourney,  Bot.  Gaz.  25:  119.  1898)  seems  to  be  a  yellow- 
flowered  form  of  this  species.  Mr.  Toumey  writes  that  his  original  material  of  this  variety 
came  from  the  low  foothills  north  of  the  RiUito  River  near  Tucson. 

Opuntia  spinosior  was  described  by  Engelmann  in  1856  as  a  variety  of  O.  whipplei.  to 
which  it  is  only  remotely  related,  but  it  was  not  separated  until  1898,  when  it  was  described 
as  distinct  by  Professor  J.  W.  Toumey. 

This  plant  is  sometimes  found  in  the  trade  as  Opuntia  arborescens  spinosior  (see 
Griissner) . 

Illustrations:  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  1,  f.  1;  pi.  5,  f.  2;  Gard.  and  For.  9:  f.  1 ; 
N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  7,  f.  1;  Plant  World  11'":  f.  7;  Sargent,  Man.  Trees  N. 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


1.  Lt^iy  ht3.nch  oi  O puntia  imbricata.  3,4.    ¥otms  oi  Opuntia  alcahes. 

2.  Flowering  branch  of  Opuntia  prolifera.         5,  6.    Opuntia  lestita. 

(All  three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  69 

Amer.  f.  560.  Emory,  Mil.  Reconn.  App.  2.  f.  10,  as  Opnutia  avbovciceus;  Shreve,  Veg.  Des. 
Mt.  Range  pi.  2,  A. 

Plate  X,  figures  2  and  3,  are  from  paintings  showing  diiferent  flower-colors,  made  at 
the  Desert  Laboratory,  Tucson,  Arizona;  figure  4  represents  a  fruiting  joint  of  a  plant  col- 
lected by  F.  Oilman  at  Sacaton,  Arizona;  and  figure  5  represents  a  leaf-bearing  joint  of  the 
same  plant;  plate  XII,  figure  2,  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  in  the  Tucson  Moun- 
tains, Arizona,  by  Dr.  MacDougal. 

32.  Opuntia  proHfera  Engelmann,  Amer.  Journ.  Sci.  II,  14:  338.      1852. 

Stems  1  to  2  meters  high,  the  trunk  and  old  branches  terete  and  woody;  terminal  joints  3  to  12 
cm.  long,  easily  breaking  off,  fleshy,  covered  with  short,  more  or  less  turgid  tubercles;  spines  6  to  12, 
brown,  10  to  12  mm.  long;  glochids  pale;  flowers  small;  sepals  orbicular,  obtuse,  dark  red;  petals  ted; 
filaments  yellow;  style  stout;  stigma-lobes  red;  ovary  1  cm.  long;  strongly  tubeiculate;  upper  areoles 
bearing  2  to  6  reddish  spines  or" the  joints  naked  throughout;  ftuit  proliferous,  3  to  3.5  cm.  long  and 
often  without  seeds ;  seeds,  if  present,  large,  regular,  6  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   Arid  hills  about  San  Diego,  California. 

Distrihution:    Southetn  California  and  coast  of  Lower  California. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  not  well  known.  We  have  referred  here,  with  some  doubt, 
specimens  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  on  Guadalupe  Island,  off  the  coast  of  Lower  California,  as 
well  as  specimens  from  the  south  end  of  Lower  California,  but  we  have  seen  no  flowers  from 
these  Lower  California  collections.  A  peculiar  form  less  than  5  dm.  high  with  bluish-green 
joints  and  small  seeds,  ftom  near  Newport,  Orange  County,  California,  deserves  further  study. 

This  species,  although  common  in  southern  California,  has  never  been  fully  and  accu- 
rately described.  It  is  often  confused  in  collections  with  O.  serpeulhia.  with  which  it  grows, 
although  they  are  very  different. 

In  greenhouse  specimens  the  joints  and  spines  are  not  well  developed. 

Illustration:   Meehan's  Monthly  3:  pi.  1. 

Plate  XI,  figure  2,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  col- 
lected by  E.  W.  Nelson  and  E.  A.  Ooldman  in  Lower  California, 
which  bloomed  at  the  New  York  Botanical  Oarden  in  April  1914. 
Figure  83  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  sent  ftom  La  Mortola,  Italy, 
in  1912;  figure  84  is  from  a  photogtaph  of  this  plant. 

Of  this  relationship,  but  of  vety  different  habit,  is  the  species 
collected  by  Dr.  Rose  on  West  San  Benito  Island  in  1911.  Unfor- 
tunately no  flowers  or  fruits  could  be  obtained,  and  hence  we  have 
not  named  it  here.    It  may  be  briefly  charactetized  as  follows: 

Opuntia  sp. 

Low,  much  branched  plants;  joints  short  (10  cm.  long),  thick,  and 
fleshy;  leaves  cylindric,  10  mm.  long,  acute;  areoles  distant,  circular,  bear- 
ing brown  wool,  tawny  glochids  and  numerous  spines;  spines  6  to  8,  often 
4  cm.  long,  slender,  reddish  brown,  inclosed  in  loose,  thin,  brownish  sheaths. 
Collected  by  Dr.  J.  N.  Rose  on  West  San  Benito  Island,  off  the  west  coast 
of  Lower  California,  March  9,  1911   (No.  16043). 

33.  Opuntia  alcahes  Weber,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  1:  321.    1895. 
Plant  .about  1  meter  high,  much  branched,  very  spiny,  especially  when 

old;  branches  terete;  spines  on  young  joints  about  12,  short,  covered  with 

white  or  very  pale  sheaths;  tubercles  prominent,  diamond-shaped;  leaves  small,  1  cm.  long,  terete,  some- 
what bronzed;  sepals  small,  brownish,  closely  imbricated,  hardly  spreading  at  tips;  petals  sometimes 
wanting,  or,  if  present,  about  1  cm.  long,  greenish  yellow,  obtuse;  stamens  numerous;  stigma-lobes 
very  short,  6  to  8,  at  first  exserted  beyond  the  sepals,  yellowish;  fruit  globular,  small,  becoming  turgid 
in  age,  yellowish,  more  or  less  proliferous,  the  umbilicus  truncated  or  slightly  depressed. 

Type  locality:   In  Lower  California. 

Distrihution:   Lower  California. 


70 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Plate  XI,  figure  3,  represents  a  leaf-bearing  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  by  the  same  collector 
on  Espiritu  Santo  Island,  Lower  California;  figure  4  is  from  a  plant  sent  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1906.  Figure  85  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant 
collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  San  Francisquito,  Lower  California. 

34.     Opuntia  burrageana  sp.  nu\ . 

Usually  low  and  bushy,  r.ircly  1  meter  high;  stems  slender,  1  to  2  cm.  in  diameter,  densely  spiny ; 
leaves  small,   2   mm.   long,  green,  early  deciduous;  old  stem  and  branches  terete;  young  joints  cylindric 


i. — Opuntia  prolifi 


8^.— Opu: 


to  narrow-clavate,  15  cm.  long  or  less;  areoles  closely  set;  tubercles  rather  low,  not  much  broader  than 
long;  spines  numerous,  similar,  spreading,  rarely  2  cm.  long,  all  covered  with  thin,  bright-yellow  sheaths; 
wool  in  areoles  short,  brown;  glochids,  when  present,  short,  light  yellow;  flower  3  to  4  cm.  broad; 
petals  few,  brownish  red  with  green  bases;  filaments  green;  stigma-lobes  white;  ovary  very  spiny;  fruit 
not  proliferous,  globular,  2  cm.  in  diameter,  somewhat  tuberculate,  probably  dry;  seeds  pale,  4  mm.  in 
diameter. 


the  hilLs  along  the 


Call 


BRITTON    AND   ROSE 


Plants  of  Opiinlui  jiilgida 


A  viTv  open  plant  of  Oj'unli.i  sphiosioi 


OPUNTIA.  71 

The  following  specimens  were  collected  by  Dr.  J.  N.  Rose  in  1911:  Near  Pichilinque 
Island  (No.  16533,  type) ;  near  San  Jose  del  Cabo  (No.  16468)  ;  near  Cape  San  Lucas  (No. 
16379)  ;  on  Carmen  Island  (No.  16630)  ;  on  San  Josef  Island  (No.  16552). 

Plate  XIV,  figure  1,  is  from  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  on  San  Josef  Island,  Lower 
California,  in  1911,  which  flowered  the  next  year  at  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden. 
Series  8.    VESTITAE. 

The  series  Vestitiie  contains  three  or  perhaps  four  species,  two  of  which  possibly  represent  green- 
house forms  of  species  of  Tephiocacltis.  natives  of  the  high  Andes.  They  are  low  species  with  elon- 
gated cylindric  joints  sometimes  arising  from  subglobose  ones,  and  form  a  connecting  link  between  the 
true  species  of  Tephrocactiis  and  CyliuJropNiit/a.  O piiiitia  teslita  in  the  field  was  supposed  to  be  a  form 
of  O.  pentldudi't.  but  in  cultivation  it  has  developed  quite  differently:  O.  floccosa,  a  Tephrocacltis,  some- 
times develops  like  the  Vestitae:  one  specimen  which  we  have  grown  shows  a  slender  cylindric  stem 
with  few  long  hairs  or  none.  Optintia  boliiiana  and  O.  pentlanJii,  both  from  Bolivia  and  described  at 
the  same  time  by  Salm-Dyck,  and  which  we  have  united,  seem  to  represent  two  forms  of  the  same 
species,  O.  pentlaiidii  being  the  abnormal  form.  The  same  condition  seems  to  exist  in  O.  lerschaffeltii 
and  its  variety  digitalis,  the  variety  being  the  normal  form.  Schumann  had  these  species  in  his  series 
Teretes   (our  series  S/ihidatae) ,  but  O.  siihulnla  and  O.  cylindrica  are  tall  woody,  much  branched  plants. 

Key  to  Species 

Areoles  with  hairs;  joints  not  or  scarcely  tuberculate. 

Joints  1  to  1.5  cm.  thick;  spines  2.5  cm.  long  or  less;  fruit  mostly  sterile 55.  O.  vestita 

Joints  2,5  to  3  cm.  thick;  spines  up  to  5  cm.  long;  fruit  many-seeded 36.  O.  shaferi 

Areoles  without  hairs;  joints  distinctly  tuberculate 37.  O.  verschaffeltii 

Of  this  series? 38.  O.  hypsophila 

35.    Opuntia  vestita  Salm-Dyck,  Allg.  Gartenz,  13:  388.    1845. 
Opiintia  teiei  Cels  in  Weber,  Diet.  Hon,  Bois  898       1898. 

Roots  fibrous;  stems  much  branched,  weak,  forming  small  clumps  3  dm.  broad  or  less  and  nearly 
as  high,  fragile;  joints  short  or  elongated,  becoming  m  greenhouse  cultivation  2  dm.  long  or  more,  ob- 
long or  cylindric,  1  to  1.5  cm.  thick,  very  spiny,  easily  breaking  apart;  areoles  circular,  conspicuous,  bear- 
ing short  wool,  spines,  and  several  long  hairs ;  spines  about  6  in  each  cluster,  acicular,  brownish,  2  to 
2.5  cm.  long;  leaves  minute,  acute;  flowers  small,  including  the  ovary;  2  cm.  long,  deep  red;  petals 
1  cm.  long;  areoles  on  ovary  conspicuous,  filled  with  white  wool  and  long  hairs;  fruit  red,  usually 
sterile,  globular  or  a  little  longer  than  broad,  usually  naked,  generally  truncate  at  apex,  often  bearing 
small  spiny  joints  at  the  areoles. 

Type  locality:   In  Bolivia. 

Distribution:   Common  on  the  sterile  hills  about  La  Paz,  Bolivia. 

Specimens  were  collected  by  Miguel  Bang  some  years  ago  and  segregated  as  a  new 
species  by  the  late  Karl  Schumann,  but  this  was  never  published;  others  were  obtained  by  Dr. 
H.  H.  Rusby  in  1885,  and  by  R.  S.  Williams  in  1901.  It  was  again  collected  by  Dr.  Rose 
in  1914,  and  living  plants  are  now  growing  at  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden.  As  seen 
wild,  it  is  a  strange  little  plant,  growing  in  low  clumps,  its  fragile  stems  easily  breaking  apart, 
especially  at  the  terminal  joints.  The  bright  red  fruits  remain  on  the  parent  plant  until  they 
produce  a  number  of  spiny  joints,  often  as  many  as  five,  which,  after  falling  off,  strike  root 
and  start  new  colonies. 

Dr.  Rose  suspected  at  the  time  he  collected  his  material  that  it  might  be  Opuntia  vestita, 
and  suggested  that  it  should  be  carefully  compared  with  it.  This  he  was  not  able  definitely 
to  prove  in  the  field,  but  the  living  specimens  sent  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  put 
out  new  branches  which  are  long,  slender,  and  cylindric,  and  are  devoid  of  long  acicular 
spines,  quite  unlike  the  wild  plants  but  almost  identical  with  the  specimens  received  from 
La  Mortola,  Italy,  some  years  ago  as  O.  vestita. 

Opuntia  teres  Cels  must  belong  here,  at  least  in  part.  Weber  states  that  the  flowers  are 
very  similar  to  O.  vestita,  while  the  fruit  is  said  to  be  small,  red,  and  proliferous,  just  as  found 
in  O.  vestita.  The  leaves  are  described  as  2  cm.  long,  however,  and  there  is  a  possibility 
that  O.  exaltata  may  be  partly  represented  in  the  description,  as  we  find  herbarium  material 
of  both  species,  from  Bolivia,  mounted  on  the  same  sheet. 

Illustration:    MoUers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  8. 


72  THE  CACTACEAE. 

Plate  XI,  tigure  5,  shows  the  phxnt  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1914;  figure  6  is  from  a  plant 
received  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1912. 

36.  Opuntia  shaferi  sp.  no  v. 

Plants  in  clusters  of  2  to  4,  erect,  about  3  dm.  high;  joints  terete,  2.3  to  3.3  cm.  in  diameter, 
elongated,  very  spiny;  tubercles  low,  often  mdistinct;  leaves  deciduous,  6  mm.  long;  areoles  1  cm. 
apart  or  less,  circular,  white-felted;  glochids  numerous,  whitish  from  the  upper  margin 
of  the  areole;  spines  about  6  at  an  areole,  brownish,  acicular,  often  4  to  5  cm.  long  and 
associated  with  long  white  hairs;  flowers  not  known;  fruit  globular,  about  2  cm.  in 
diameter,  bearing  numerous  large  areoles,  the  areoles  white-felted,  with  glochids  and 
iiairs,  but  no  spines:  seeds  turgid,  pointed  at  base,  4  mm.  long. 

Collected  by  J.  A.  Shafer  among  stones  between  Purmamaria  and  Tum- 
baya,  Argentina,  February  6,  1917  (No.  90). 

Nearest  O.  vestita  but  less  cespitose,  taller  and  larger,  and  with  fertile  fruit. 

37.  Opuntia  verschaffeltii  Cels  in  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  898.     1898. 

Opiiiilia  verschalfeltii  digitalis  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  898.      1898. 

Forms  low,  in  dense  clumps,  much  branched;  joints  globular  to  short-cylindric, 
I  to  4  cm.  long,  somewhat  tuberculate,  pale  green ;  spines  1  to  3,  yellowish,  weak,  and 
bristle-like,  1  to  3  cm.  long;  in  cultivated  plants  joints  elongated,  6  to  21  cm.  long, 
slender,  1  to  1.5  cm.  in  diameter,  strongly  tuberculate,  spineless;  glochids  few,  white; 
areoles  narrow,  longer  than  broad,  tilled  with  short  white  wool. 

Type  locality:   In  Bolivia. 

Distribution:   Bolivia. 

In  1914  Dr.  Rose  collected  this  species  on  the  barren  hills  about  La  Paz. 
Bolivia,  and  from  his  observations  it  seemed  to  be  only  a  form  of  OpiDitia 
pentlandii.  In  cultivation,  however,  it  behaves  very  differently  from  his  spec- 
imens of  the  latter,  and  in  fact  has  developed  a  phase  very  unlike  its  normal 
type  but  identical  with  other  greenhouse  specimens  sent  out  by  Mr.  Berger 
some  years  ago  under  the  name  of  O.  verschafjeltii. 

Opuntia  digitalis  Weber  (Diet.  Hort.  Bois  898.  1898)  was  given  as  a 
synonym  of  O.  verschajjeltii  digilulis. 

Figure  86  represents  an  elongated  joint,  from  a  greenhouse  specimen;  this 
grew  from  the  short  normal  joint,  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  La  Paz,  Be 
in  1914. 

38.  Opuntia  hypsophila  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:  309. 
Cespitose,   branching,  small,   5   to   10  cm.   high,   pale  green;   joints 

globose  to  cylindric,  1.5  to  3  cm.  long;  tubercles  depressed;  spines  3  to 
5,  subulate,  weak,  spreading,  white  at  first,  in  age  brownish;  flowers  and 
fruit  unknown. 

Type  locality:    In  the  Province  of  Salta,  Argentina,  in  the 
Andes,  at  an  altitude  of  2,500  to  4,000  meters.  _^_ 

Distribution:   Salta,  Argentina. 

We  do  not  know  this  species,  but  Dr.  Spegazzini  thought        ^"^-  ^'' 
it  might  be  a  Tephrocactus  and  associated  it  with  Opuntia  ver- 
scha^eltii  digitalis. 

Series  9.  CLAVARIOIDES. 

This  series  is  the  same  as  the  Elnberc/ilatue  of  Schumann  and  contains  but  a  single  species,  re- 
corded as  a  native  of  Chile.  According  to  Schumann,  the  stems  ate  cylindtic  to  clavate,  not  tuberculate, 
the  leaves  are  small  and  caducous,  and  the  spines  are  very  small  and  appressed.  The  fruit  is  said  to 
contain  one  woolly  seed. 

39.  Opuntia  clavarioides  Pfeiifer,  Enum.  Cact.  173.     1837. 

Low,  much  branched,  grayish  brown,  4  dm.  high  or  less,  truncate  or  cristate  at  apex;  joints  not 
tuberculate,  rather  fragile,  short-cylindric  or  clavate,  1.5  cm.  in  diameter;  leaves  minute,  1.5  mm. 
long,   reddish,  caducous;  areoles  minute,  clo-sely  set,   filled   with   wool   and   minute  spines;   spines   4   tn 


OPUNTIA. 


73 


10,  white,  appressed ;  flowers  6  to  6.5  cm.  long;  sepals  linear,  pointed,  reddish,  petals  light  brown,  nar- 
rowly spatulate,  slightly  crenate;  ovary  bearing  minute  leaves  with  wool  and  short  bristles  in  their 
axils;  filaments  white,  shorter  than  the  petals;  style  white,  with  7  stigma-lobes;  fruit  ellipsoid,  1.5  cm. 
long,  one-seeded. 

Type  locality:    In  Chile. 

Distribiitio)!:   Originally  described  from  Chile,  but  often  referred  to  Mexico. 

Very  little  is  known  of  this  species,  although  it  was  described  as  long  ago  as  1837,  and 
it  is  rare  in  collections.  We  have  never  seen  it  in  flower  and  have  seen  only  one  record  of 
its  flowering  in  cultivation.  The  peculiar  structure  of  the  stem,  narrow  petals  and  single 
lanate  seed,  join  a  combination  of  characters  separating  it  from  other  opuntias.  and  lead 
Schumann  to  refer  it  to  a  distinct  series  which  he  calls  Etuhen/thitae.  The  question  has 
been  raised  in  our  own  minds  if  this  is  a  true  Opuut'ui.  In  cultivation  the  plant  is  usually 
grafted  on  some  Platyopuntui. 

Variety  cr/stdtd  is  offered  in  the  trade  journals. 

Opmit'id  Dmiothele.  Ceveiis  clavario'ides,  and  Cereiis  sev'iceiis  are  usually  given  as  syno- 
nyms, but  all  these  were  cited  by  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  1^3.  1837)  as  synonyms  of  this  species 
at  the  place  commonly  given  as  their  first  publication.  The 
varieties  \asc'iata  Schumann  (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  10: 
159.  1900),  \asUgiata  Mundt  (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  3: 
30.  1893),  and  monstniosa  Monville  (Labourer,  Monogr. 
Cact.  489,  1853)  are  anomalous  greenhouse  forms. 

lUustrdt'ions:  Gartenflora  A^\  f.  7;  Montsschr.  Kak- 
teenk. 3:9;  16:  169;  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  104; 
Card.  Chron.  III.  30:  f.  75,  this  last  as  Opuntia  clavar'i- 
oides  cristata:  Garden  13:  107,  as  Opuntia  clavarioides 
cristata:  Rother,  Praktischer  Leitfaden  Kakteen  106;  Mol- 
lers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit,  15:  67;  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  19; 
Thomas,  Zimmerkultur  Kakteen  59;  Wiener  III.  Giirt. 
Zeit.  28:  f.  18;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  32:  131. 

Figure  87  is  copied  from  the  illustration  used  by 
Schumann  cited  above. 

Series  10.  SALMIANAE. 

This  series  (Vriitescentes  of  Schumann),  by  some  supposed 
to  be  composed  of  five  species  but  here  treated  as  containing  but  another  spenes 

one,  is  confined  to  central  South  America.     It  is  characterized  by 
slender,   bushy,   often  vine-like  habit,   terete  branches,   and   red 

fruit,  the  latter  crowned  by  proliferous  spiny  joints.     Seeds  are  unknown.     Greenhouse  specimens  often 
resemble  Opuntia  leptocaidis,  but  the  flowers  are  somewhat  larger,  and  the  spines  are  not  sheathed. 
40.    Opuntia  salmiana   Parmentier  in  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  172.      1837. 
Opiinthi  ipegjzzinti  Weher,  Diet.  Hon.  Bois  898.      1898. 
Opuitlij  jlliiflorj  Schumann,  Gesamtb.    Kakteen  Nachtr.    152.     1903. 

A  bushy  plant,  3  dm.  to  2  meters  high,  much  branched  at  base;  branches  often  weak,  terete,  1.5 
cm.  in  diameter  or  less,  often  purplish,  etuberculate ;  areoles  small,  bearing  wool,  yellow  glochids,  and 
spines;  spines  sometimes  wanting,  usually  several,  1.5  cm.  long  or  less,  white;  flowers  2  to  3.5  cm.  broad, 
scattered  along  the  stem;  buds  pinkish  or  even  scarlet;  petals  obovate,  pale  yellow  to  white,  sometimes 
tinged  with  pink;  stamens  and  style  short;  stigma-lobes  yellowish  green;  fruits  sterile,  clavate,  scarlet, 
with  few  or  no  spines. 

Type  locality:   In  Brazil. 

Distribution:    Southern  Brazil,  Paraguay,  and  northern  Argentina. 

(Extend  range  to  central  Argentina  and  habit  to  rocky  hillsides  [according  to  W.  B. 
Alexander]  ) . 

After  careful  consideration,  we  have  combined  three  species  of  Schumann's  series 
Trutescentes  into  one.  We  have  examined  considerable  living  material  and  all  the  illus- 
trations,  but   have   found   no   grounds   for   separating   the   group   into   species.     All   were 


74 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


described  as  proliferous  and  sterile.  O.  spegcizzhii/  was  supposed  to  be  unarmed,  but  this 
character  is  not  constant;  flower  differences  are  described,  but  these  are  inctinstant.  One 
species,  O.  albijlora.  has  already  been  referred  to  synonymy. 

Opuntta  salm'tana  is  said  to  have  come  from  Brazil,  but  no  definite  locality  is  given  for 
it,  and  it  has  not  been  collected  there  in  recent  times.  If  really  from  Brazil,  and  there  is  no 
good  reason  to  question  this  reference,  it  is  doubtless  from  the  southern  part,  possibly  on  the 
border  of  Paraguay;  indeed,  0.  alhijlora,  one  of  the  three,  was  described  from  a  Paraguay 
collection;  the  other,  0.  spegazziiiii,  is  a  native  of  the  deserts  of  northern  Argentina. 

Cactus  sahnianus  Lemaire  (Cact.  87.  1868,  name  only),  has  been  referred  here  as  a 
synonym;  as  has  also  O.  \lorihunda  Lemaire  (Cact.  Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  68.  1839). 

Opitntta  schickendantzii  Weber,  included  by  Schumann  in  this  relationship,  we  refer  to 
our  series  Aurantiacae. 


buntia  wagneri  Weber  in  Gosselin  (Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  10:  393.  1904),  de- 
scribed without  flower  or  fruit,  is  probably  to  be  referred  here;  at  least  Roland-Gosselin  be- 
lieved it  to  be  of  this  group.  We  have  not  seen  any  of  the  specimens  from  Chaco,  Argentina, 
obtained  by  M.  Emile  Wagner  in  1902. 

Illustrations:  Bliihende  Kakteen  3:  pi.  123;  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  76:  pi.  4542;  Fl.  Serr.  7: 
pi.  670;  Jard  Fleur.  2:  pi.  194;  Loudon,  Encycl.  pi.  ed.  3.  f.  19406;  Pfeiffer  and  Otto,  Abbild. 
Beschr.  Cact.  1:  pi.  6;  Castle,  Cactaceous  plants  f.  15;  Bliihende  Kakteen  2:  pi.  103,  this  last 
as  Opuntia  spegazzhni;  Hogg,  Veg.  King.  340.  f .  HI. 

Figure  88  is  from  a  plant  in  the  greenhouses  of  the  LInited  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture at  Washington;  iigure  89  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at 
Cordoba,  Argentina,  in  1915. 


OPUNTIA,  75 

Opuntia  maldonadensis  Arechavaleta,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Nfontevideo  5:  286.     1905. 

Cespitose,  erect;  branches  cylindric,  entangled  or  intertwined;  joints  3  to  10  cm.  long,  about  2  cm. 
in  diameter,  the  terminal  ones  obovate-spherical,  dark  green  to  olive-colored ;  areoles  each  surrounded 
by  a  violet  blotch,  small  or  prominent,  orbicular;  spines  5  or  more,  stout,  spreading,  elongated,  un- 
equal, the  longest  one  2  to  2.5  cm.  long,  reddish  to  brown;  flowers  and  fruit  unknown. 

Type  locality:    Punta  Ballena,  near  Maldeonado,  Uruguay. 

Distribution:    Uruguay. 

This  species,  referred  to  the  subgenus  CyHiiclyop/mtia  by  Arechavaleta,  inhabits  the  coast 
of  Uruguay  and  is  known  to  us  only  from  description;  we  append  it  to  the  series  Salviianae, 
but  its  nearest  relationship  may  be  elsewhere. 

Series  11.  SUBULATAE. 
This  series  is  confined  to  South  America  and  represents  a  very  distinct  group,  differing  greatly 
from  the  tall  cylindric-jointed  species  of  North  America.  They  lack  sheaths  to  the  spines,  and  the 
typical  species  has  elongated  persistent  leaves.  Although  several  of  the  species  have  long  been  in  cul- 
tivation, at  least  two  of  them  being  known  only  from  garden  plants ;  for  a  long  time  the  flowers 
were  unknown  and  the  plants  were  as  frequently  called  Cereiis  or  Pereskia  as  Opuntta. 

Key  to  Species 

Leaves  long-persisting,  elongated. 

Leaves  up  to  12  cm.  long;  spines  yellowish  white A\.   O.  subulata 

Leaves  1  to  7  cm.  long ;  spines  brownish 42.   O.  exaltata 

Leaves  early  deciduous,  short. 

Stem  1  meter  high ;  leaves  4  mm.  long 43.   O.  pachypus 

Stem  3  to  4  meters  high ;  leaves  10  to  13  mm.  long 44.   O.  cylitidrica 

41.    Opuntia  subulata  (Miihlenpfordt)   Engelmann,  Gard.  Chron.  19:627.    1883. 

Peresiita  subi/ljta  Muhlenpfotdt,  Allg.  Gartenz.  13:  347.      1845. 
Opuiilia  eHemeethtiij  Miquel,  Nederl.  Krudk.    Arch.  4:  337.      1858.* 
Opuntia  segethii  Philippi,  Bot.  Zeit.  26:   861.   1868. 

Either  with  a  simple  erect  stem  or  with  several  main  branches  from  the  base,  2  to  4  meters  high; 
trunk  6  to  10  cm.  in  diameter,  the  old  bark  smooth  and  brown,  its  areoles  bearing  clusters  of  8  spines 
or  more ;  branches  numerous,  more  or  less  clustered  but  not  whorled,  at  first  almost  at  right  angles  to 
main  stem  but  soon  erect,  bright  green ;  leaves  persistent,  green,  nearly  at  right  angles  to  branch,  straight 
or  somewhat  bowed  above,  nearly  terete,  pointed,  5  to  12.5  cm.  long,  grooved  on  the  under  side; 
tubercles  large,  depressed,  becoming  obliterated  on  old  branches,  arranged  in  longitudinal  or  spiral 
lines,  more  or  less  diamond-shaped,  but  retuse  at  apex  and  pointed  or  attentuate  below,  2  to  4  cm. 
long;  areoles  in  the  retuse  grooves  of  the  tubercles  bearing  a  few  short  yellow  spines  or  sometimes 
spineless,  but  usually  having  1  or  2  slender  spines;  flowers  borne  toward  the  ends  of  the  branches; 
sepals  reddish,  minute,  4  to  8  mm.  long  or  less ;  petals  broader  than  the  sepals,  orange  or  greenish 
yellow;  style  rose-red  except  the  whitish  base,  including  the  stigma-lobes  about  3  cm.  long,  about  as 
long  as  the  longest  stamens;  stigma-lobes  5  or  6,  slender,  orange-yellow;  fruit  oblong,  more  or  less 
persistent,  6  to  10  cm.  long,  leafy,  with  a  deep  umbilicus,  sometimes  proliferous;  seeds  few,  10  to  12 
mm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Valparaiso,  Chile,  but  doubtless  described  from  cultivated  plants. 

Distribution:  Chile  is  usually  given  as  the  home  of  this  plant,  but  it  is  not  found  wild 
there.    It  may  be  a  native  in  Argentina. 

This  species  has  long  been  in  cultivation,  it  having  originally  been  sent  from  Valpa- 
raiso, but  Dr.  Rose  did  not  find  it  wild  there  or  in  any  other  part  of  Chile.  It  is  rarely  seen 
in  cultivation  in  Chile.  For  many  years  it  passed  as  a  species  of  Pereskia,  but  in  1883  Dr. 
George  Engelmann  pointed  out  that  it  could  not  be  retained  in  that  genus  and  transferred  it 
to  Opuntia.  The  leaves  are  the  largest  in  the  genus,  and  it  has  larger  seeds  than  any  other 
Opuntia. 

We  have  referred  Opuntia  ellemeetiana  (originally  described  from  Chile),  a  species 
with  very  long  leaves,  to  O.  subulata,  although  we  have  never  seen  specimens.  Schumann 
did  not  know  it  and  only  lists  it. 

says  1859. 


76 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


We  have  been  able  more  detinitely  to  refer  here  Opioit'ui  segeth'ii.  tor  we  saw  not  only 
Philippi's  type  specimens  in  his  herbarium,  but  also  living  specimens  grown  from  Philippi's 
original  stock.  This  type  specimen  was  from  plants  cultivated  at  Santiago,  but  in  a  later  pub- 
lication he  states  that  his  species  grows  spontaneously  near  Arequipa.  A  part  of  this  latter 
material  is  preserved  m  his  herbarium  at  Santiago,  which  Dr.  Rose  was  able  to  study;  he  also 
examined  the  Arequipa  plant  alive,  and  is  convmced  that  it  is  quite  different,  being  the  plant 
common  in  Peru  and  Bolivia  described  below  as  Opuntia  exaltata. 

lllustratiotis:  Engler  and  Prantl,  Pflanzenfam.  3"':  f.  56,  L;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  34:  f.  33, 
38;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  8:  7;  9:  183;  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  103;  Neub.  Gart. 
Mag.  1893:  291,  this  as  Peresk'ut  suhulatu:  Bot.  Zeit.  26:  pi.  13,  C.  f.  1;  Gartenflora  32:  pi. 
1129,  f.  5,  the  last  two  as  0/)//;///^  .ff^^f/Zw.' Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  8:  32,  as  Peiesk'ni  uibulata: 
Haage  and  Schmidt,  Haupt-Verz.  Kakteen  1919:  169;  Goebel,  Pflanz.  Schild.  1:  f.  35;  MoUers 
Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  15. 

Figure  90  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  at 
the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  grown  from  a 
cutting  brought  by  Mrs.  H.  L.  Britton  from  the 
Riviera,  Italy,  in  1907. 


He 


Mortol. 


42.    Opuntia  exaltata  Berber, 

1912. 

Stem  2  to  5  meters  high,  with  a  definite  trunk 
5  to  30  cm.  in  diameter  when  well  grown,  much 
branched;  ultimate  joints  fleshy,  easily  detached,  some- 
what curved  upward,  clavate,  strongly  tuberculate ; 
tubercles  large,  1.5  to  3  cm.  long,  more  or  less  dia- 
mond-shaped, elevated,  and  rounded;  areoles  rounded, 
filled  with  short  white  wool;  glochids  often  wanting, 
when  present  brown ;  leaves  fleshy,  terete,  1  to  7  cm. 
long;  spines  on  young  joints  1  to  5,  mostly  1  to  3, 
dark  yellow  or  brownish,  unequal,  the  longest  ones  5 
cm.  long ;  spines  on  old  wood  numerous,  sometimes 
12  or  more,  often  13  cm.  long,  brown,  with  roughened 
tips;  flowers,  including  ovaries,  7  cm.  long;  sepals  and 
petals  brick-red;  outer  sepals  ovate,  small,  the  inner 
ones  passing  into  petals;  petals  2  cm.  long,  broadly 
obovate  to  broadly  spatulate,  sometimes  nearly  trun- 
cate at  apex ;  stamens  numerous,  short,  pinkish  above, 
nearly  white  below;  style  swollen  below,  pinkish; 
stigma-lobes  greenish;  ovary  4  cm.  long,  deeply  urn- 
bilicate,  with  large  flat  tubercles;  areoles  on  ovar\ 
circular,  filled  with  short  brown  and  white  wool,  lon^, 
loosely  attached  brown  spines,  and  a  few  shoritr 
glochids,  and  subtended  by  small,  tardily  deciduous 
leaves;  fruit  green,  pear-shaped,  9  cm.  long,  usu.ilK 
sterile;  seeds  large,  irregular,  10  mm.  broad.  '"  run  i.i  su  u  .i  .i 

Type  locality.   Not  cited;  described  from  cultivated  plants. 

Distribution:    Ecuador,  Peru,  Bolivia,   and  probably  northern  Chile. 

This  Opuntia  is  called  pataquisca  by  the  Cuzco  and  Arequipa  Indians,  and  is  also  known 
as  espina. 

This  species  was  the  most  widely  distributed  Opuntia  seen  by  Dr.  Rose  on  the  west 
coast  of  South  America;  but  it  is  difficult  to  decide  whether  it  is  really  native  there,  for  it 
is  widely  cultivated  as  a  hedge  plant  in  many  places.  It  seems  to  be  native  along  the  upper 
Rimac  of  central  Peru;  at  least  it  is  well  established  on  the  hills.  Although  very  common  in 
southern  Peru  and  about  La  Paz,  Bolivia,  it  is  probably  introduced  for  it  grows  only  about 
towns  and  cultivated  fields  and  seems  never  to  produce  fertile  fruit.  About  Cuzco  it  is  like- 
wise cultivated,  but  may  be  a  native  there  also,  for  the  fruit  is  generally  fertile. 


BRITTON   AND   ROSE 


1.  Optintia  exaltata  as  seen  in  the  highlands  of  Peru. 

2.  Clump  of  Opuntia  floccosa  as  it  grows  in  the  valleys  of  the  Andes  of  eastern  Peru. 


OPUNTIA.  77 

Opinit'ht  iinixilliire  Roezl  (Morren,  Belg.  Hort.  24:  39.  1874),  published  without  descrip- 
tion and  probably  collected  in  the  high  mountains  above  Lima,  may  belong  here. 

Opuntid  cu))i'nigu,  of  European  gardens,  belongs  here.  It  was  briefly  mentioned  in  the 
journal  of  the  Berlin  Cactus  Society  (Monatsschr.  Kaktcenk.  7:  160.  1897),  but  not  formally 
described.    Schumann  referred  it  to  O.  pentland'i'i. 

This  species  is  near  Opuntia  sub  ul  at  a.  but  probably  is  distinct,  although  it  is  not  always 
easy  to  distinguish  them  in  greenhouse  plants.  Berger  speaks  of  the  similarity  of  the  two 
as  follows: 

"This  new  species  stands  very  close  to  O.  subulata.  and  may  be  easily  mistaken  for  it,  but  when 
grown  side  by  side  the  differences  are  quite  obvious.  O.  exaltala  is  a  taller  plant  with  generally  longer 
branches,  and  somewhat  glaucous  instead  of  grass-green.  The  tubercles  are  more  elongated  and  differ- 
ently marked.  The  leaves  are  shorter,  the  spines,  when  young,  are  not  white,  but  yellowish  brown,  gen- 
erally stouter  and  stiffer.  I  have  not  yet  seen  a  flower  of  it.  It  is  an  old 
inhabitant  of  our  gardens." 

Plate  XIII,  figure  1,  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Hiram 
Bingham,  July  7,  1912,  near  Tipon,  Cuzco  Valley,  Peru,  showing 
the  plant  near  the  upper  left-hand  corner;  plate  XV,  figure  1,  rep- 
resents a  leaf-bearing  joint  of  a  plant  sent  to  the  New  York  Botani- 
cal Garden  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1915;  figure  2  represents  the 
lower  part  of  a  fruiting  branch  obtained  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Cuzco,  Peru, 
m  1914. 

43.    Opuntia  pachypus  Schumann,  Monatsschr.    Kakteenk.    14:  26.     1904. 

Plant  about  1  merer  high,  much  branched  and  candelabrum-like; 
branches  cylindric,  3  to  5  cm.  in  diameter,  either  straight  or  curved,  marked 
with  broad  tubercles ;  leaves  subulate,  pointed,  constricted  at  the  base,  4  mm. 
long,  early  deciduous ;  areoles  circular,  borne  at  the  upper  edges  of  the 
tubercles,  4  mm.  in  diameter,  filled  with  short  wool;  spines  20  to  30,  subu- 
late, 5  to  20  mm.  long;  glochids  yellow;  flowers  scarlet,  7  cm.  long,  includ- 
ing the  ovary;  petals  variable,  the  longest  ones  1.4  cm.  long;  style  very  thick, 
9  mm.  long;  stigma-lobes  5  mm.  long;  ovary  more  or  less  spiny. 

Type  locality:    Near  Santa  Clara,  Peru. 

Distribution:   Central  Peru,  near  the  coast. 

We  know  this  species  only  from  the  description  and  illustra- 
tions.  In  1914  Dr.  Rose  made  several  unsuccessful  efforts  to  find  it 

„  „,  ,  II-  Fig.  91.— Opuntia  pachypus. 

at  Santa  Clara,  the  type  locality. 

Illustrations:   Engler  and  Drude,  Veg.  Erde  12:  pi.  5'';  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  14:  27. 
Figure  91  is  copied  from  the  second  illustration  above  cited. 

AA.   Opuntia  cylindrica  (Lamarck)  De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:  471.     1828. 

Cactus  cylindricus  Lamarck,  Encycl.   1:    539.    1783. 
Ceretis  cylindrki/s  Haworth,  Syn.  PI.  Succ.   183.      1812. 

More  or  less  branched,  3  to  4  meters  high,  the  old  trunk  becoming  smooth;  joints  cylindric, 
obtuse  at  apex,  green,  with  slightly  elevated  tubercles;  leaves  deciduous,  10  to  13  mm.  long,  terete, 
acute;  areoles  depressed,  filled  with  white  wool,  bearing  some  long  hairs  and  at  first  2  or  3,  afterwards 
more,  short  white  spines  (spines  often  wanting  on  greenhouse  plants)  ;  flowers  appearing  just  below 
the  ends  of  the  terminal  branches,  small,  inconspicuous,  about  2.5  cm.  broad,  scarlet;  petals  small,  erect, 
obtuse;  stamens  numerous;  style  slender,  2.5  cm.  long;  ovary  strongly  tuberculate,  depressed  at  apex; 
fruit  about  5  cm.  long,  yellowish  green;  seeds  more  or  less  angled,  4  to  6  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:   In  Peru. 

Distribution:    Highlands  of  Ecuador  and  Peru. 

The  home  of  this  species  is  usually  given  by  recent  writers  as  Chile,  but  Lamarck,  who 
described  it  first  in  1783,  said  it  came  from  Peru.  Dr.  Rose,  who  visited  Peru  and  Chile  in 
1914,  was  not  able  to  find  it  wild  in  either  country  but  found  it  abundant  in  Ecuador  in 


78  THE  CACTACEAE. 

1918.    This  species  was  introduced  into  England  in   1799,  but  flowers  were  not  known  until 
about  1834. 

There  are  two  abnormal  forms  in  cultivation  which  are  ottered  under  the  names  variety 
cristata  and  moustruoia.  Several  varieties  of  this  species  are  given  in  catalogues:  crntata 
(Haage  and  Schmidt,  Haupt-Verzeichnis  1908:  228.  1908);  crhtata  minor  Haage  and 
Schmidt  (Verzeichnis  Blumenzwiebeln  1913:  37.  1913);  and  rabustior  (Haage  and  Schmidt, 
Haupt-Verzeichnis  1908:  228.    1908). 

Illustrations:  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  61:  pi.  3301;  Carnegie  Inst.  Wash.  269:  pi.  U),  f.  88; 
Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  12;  Gartenwelt  15:  339;  Rother,  Praktischer 
Leitfaden  Kakteen  107;  Cact.  Journ.  1:  100;  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  42.  f.  4,  as  Opuntia 
cylindrka  cristata:  Wiener  Illustr.  Gartenz.  29:  f.  22,  No.  10;  De  Laet,  Cat.  Gen.  f.  88;  Mo- 
natsschr.  Kakteenk.  13:  71;  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  42.  f.  3. 

Plate  XIV,  figure  2,  shows  a  leaf-bearing  top  of  a  plant  grov\n  at  the  New  York  Botani- 
cal Garden. 

Series   12.    MIQUELIANAE. 

Bushy  plants,  with  elongated  cylindric  bluish  joints;  tubercles  large,  elevated;  leaves  minute,  early 
deciduous.     The  series  consists  of  but  one  species,  confined  to  the  deserts  of  northern  Chile. 

45.    Opuntia  miquelii  Monville,  Hon.  Univ.  1:  218.    1840.* 
Opiituia  puUerulenla  Pfeiffer,  AUg.  Gartenz.  8:  407.      1840. 
Opuntupuherulenla  miquelii  Salm-Dyck,   Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  49.      1845. 
Opiaitu  geissei  Philippi,  Anal.  Univ.  Chile  85:  492.      1894. 
Opiintij'rostfloij  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  686.      1898. 
Often  growing  in  colonies  2  to  5  meters  broad;   stems  cylindric,   much  branched,   usually   less   than 
1   meter  high,  but  occasionally  1.5  meters  high,  with  numerous  lateral  branches;  branches  rather  short, 
usually  only  8  to  20  cm.  long,  thick   (5  to  6  cm.  in   diameter)  ;   old  branches  bluish  green,   with   low 
tubercles  sometimes  2  cm.  long;  young  joints  bright  green,  with  high  tubercles  flattened  laterally;  spines 
tardily  developing,  but  formidable  on  old  branches,  very  unequal,  in  clusters  of  10  or  more,  the  longest 
ones  nearly  10  cm.  long,  whitish  in  age;  glochids  numerous,  brownish,  caducous;  leaves  minute,  2  to  3 
mm.   long;   areoles  circular,  when  young   filled  with   white    wool,    in    age    somewhat    elevated    on    the 
areoles;  flowers  rather  variable  in  length,  4  to  8  cm.   long  including  the  ovary,   rose-colored  to  nearly 
white;  petals  broad,  apiculate,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long;   filaments    rose-colored;    ovary    strongly    tuberculate; 
areoles  filled  with  numerous  brown  glochids  and  subtended  by  minute  leaves;  style  white;  stigma-lobes 
green;  fruit  ovoid  to  oblong  in  outline,  nearly  white;  umbilicus  truncate;  seeds  small,  4  mm.  broad. 
Type  locality:  In  South  America,  but  no  definite  locality. 
Distribution:   Province  of  Atacama,  Chile. 

O  punt  id  miquelii  and  0.  pulverulent  a  have  long  been  considered  identical.  We  have 
not  seen  the  types  of  either,  but  are  following  such  authorities  as  Salm-Dyck  (in  1850),  La- 
bouret  (1853),  and  Riimpler  (1885)  in  uniting  them.  They  seem  to  have  been  published  in 
the  same  year. 

Opuntia  geissei,  according  to  a  statement  made  to  Dr.  Rose  by  Juan  Sohrens,  of  Santiago, 
is  the  same  as  O.  miquelii.  and  this  the  former  was  able  to  verify  by  later  herbarium  and 
field  studies. 

Opuntia  rosiflora  Schumann  was  based  on  Phiiippi's  unpublished  name  O.  rosea:  while 
O.  rosea  was  made  by  Philippi  the  type  of  0.  geissei.  This  is  clearly  shown  by  Phiiippi's  her- 
barium, where  he  has  erased  the  name  O.  rosea  and  substituted  O.  geissei.  Dr.  Rose  also 
obtained  from  William  Geisse  a  part  of  Phiiippi's  original  specimen,  which  came,  as  the  label 
states,  from  near  Bandurrias,  in  the  valley  of  Carrizal,  in  the  Province  of  Atacama.  Later  on, 
while  making  held  observations  in  Atacama,  Dr.  Rose  found  this  species  very  common  from 
north  of  Castillo  to  Vallenar.  This  is  the  general  region  of  O.  geissei  (O.  rosea  and  O.  rosi- 
flora) and  in  the  river  valley  of  the  Huasco.  Huasco,  the  type  locality  of  O.  miquelii,  is  25 
miles  lower  down  this  valley,  and  we  have  no  hesitancy  in  uniting  them  all. 

Although  this  species  is  not  uncommon  in  cultivation,  it  has  rarely  been  seen  in  flower, 
and  we  believe  that  the  fruit  has  not  heretofore  been  described. 

•Schumann  states  that  this  book  was  publishtd  in  1839. 


1.  Flowering  branch  of  Opiintui  binrageMhi.  3,    t.    Joints  of  Opuntia  staiilyi. 

2.  Opniitia  cylindrica.  5.    Flowering  joint  of  Opiinlia  macrorhiza. 

(all  three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  79 

Dr.  Rose  observed  a  single  plant  infested  by  Lovanthus  aphyllus,  the  parasite  which  is 
so  abundant  on  Cereus  chiloensu. 

OpuntJa  heteromorpha  Philippi  (Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Chile  1891'':  28.  1891)  we  refer  here 
on  the  authority  of  Schumann,  but  we  have  seen  no  specimens,  the  type  specimen  being 
missing  from  the  Philippi  herbarium  in  Santiago;  it  was  collected  at  Chiquito,  Tarapaca, 
Chile. 

Dr.  Weber  thought  that  Opuntia  segeth'n  belonged  here,  but  we  have  referred  it  to  O. 
suhulata. 

Opuntia  cayrhahnsis  Philippi  is  only  mentioned  by  Schumann  (Gesamtb.  Kakteen 
Nachtr.  152.  1903).    It  is  doubtless  to  be  referred  here. 

Plate  XVI,  ligure  1,  is  from  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Vallenar,  Chile,  in  1914. 

Series  13.  CLAVATAE. 

Here  we  include  nine  prostrate  or  spreading,  low  species,  natives  of  the  southwestern  United 
States  and  Mexico,  characterized  by  clavate  joints  and  by  sheathless  spines,  although  rudimentary  sheaths 
liave  been  observed  on  young  spines  in  some  of  the  species;  they  appear  to  form  a  transition  between 
the  subgenus  Cylindropiintia  and  the  South  American  subgenus  Tephrocacttis.  from  which  they  differ 
essentially  in  having  clavate  joints. 

Key  to  Species. 

Spines  flattened. 

Stems  very  stout.  .     . 

Stems  hardly  clavate ;  ovary  very  prickly 46.  O.  inticta 

Stems  strictly  clavate;  ovary  only  slightly  prickly 47.   O.  slanlyi 

Stems  more  slender  and  weak. 

Spines  brown,  slender,  long  (4  to  6  cm.  long) 48.  O.  schottii 

Spines  stout,  white,  when  old  very  flat. 

Bristles  on  ovary  and  fruit  white 49-   O.  claiata^ 

Bristles  on  ovary  and  fruit  brown .50.   O.  parishii 

Spines  terete,  elongated,  and  flexible,  or  the  central  ones  somewhat  flattened. 
Flowers  pinkish  or  purple. 

Bristles  on  ovary  numerous,  brown 51.   O.  pjilchella 

Bristles  on  ovary  few,  white 32.   O.   r:!is 

Flowers  yellow. 

Spines  comparatively  short,   swollen   at  base .55.   O.   bulbispina 

Spines  long  and  flexible,  not  swollen  at  base 54-0.  grahamii 

46.     Opuntia   invicta   Brandegee,    Proc.    CaUf.   Acad.  II.  2:  163.    1889. 

Plants  growing  in  large  clusters  2  meters  in  diameter  and  2  to  5  dm.  high,  with  many  ascending 
or  spreading  branches;  joints  obovoid  to  clavate,  dark  green,  8  to  10  cin.  long,  strongly  tuberculate; 
tubercles  large,  flattened  laterally,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  areoles  large,  1  to  1.5  cm.  in  diameter;  leaves 
linear,  8  to  14  mm.  long,  reddish,  curved,  acute,  deciduous;  spines  very  formidable,  when  young  reddish 
or  purple  with  carmine-red  bases,  chestnut-brown  at  tips  and  grayish  between,  but  in  age  dull  in  color; 
radial  spines  6  to  10;  central  spines  10  to  12,  much  stouter  than  the  radials,  strongly  flattened;  wool 
white;  glochids  few,  white,  2  to  4  mm.  long;  flowers  yellow,  5  cm.  in  diameter;  sepals  ovate,  acumi- 
nate; ovary  2  cm.  in  diameter,  almost  hidden  by  the  numerous  reddish,  acicular  spines;  seeds  yellowish, 
2  mm.  broad. 

Type  Locality:  About  San  Juanico,  Lower  California. 

Distribution:  Central  Lower  California,  at  low  elevations. 

Mr.  Brandegee  has  called  attention  to  the  strong  resemblance  in  habit  of  this  species 
to  some  of  the  species  of  Echinocereus,  and  Dr.  Rose  states  that  when  he  first  saw  it  he 
supposed  it  to  be  some  strange  Echinocereus.  It  grows  in  great  tufted  masses  and  does 
not  suggest  in  the  remotest  degree  any  of  our  North  American  opuntias.  The  species  clearly 
belongs  to  Engelmann's  series  Clavatae,  where  it  was  placed  by  Schumann,  who  associated  it  with 
O.  cereiforniis,  but  it  is  undoubtedly  much  nearer  to  O.  stanlyi.  So  far  as  we  know,  the  plant 
has  never  been  in  the  trade;  it  does  not  succeed  well  in  cultivation.  Considerable  living 
material  was  brought  back  by  the  Albatross  in  1911,  most  of  which  was  sent  to  the  New 
York  Botanical  Garden;  but  some  of  the  plants  were  sent  to  collections  at  St.  Louis,  Wash- 
ington, and  Los  Angeles. 

Illustration:  Cact.  Journ.   1:  February. 

Plate  XVI,   figure  2,   represents  a  plant  collected  by   Dr.  Rose  at  San   Francisquito, 


80  THE  CACTACEAE. 

Lower  California,  in   1911. 

47.  Opuntia   stanlyi   Engelmann  in  Emory,  Mil.  Reconn.  15cS.    1848. 

Opunlia  emoryi  Engelmann.  Proc.  Amer.  AcaJ.  3:  303.     1856. 

C.tclui  emoryi  Lema'ne.  Cactees  88.      1868. 

Opnnli.1  kunzei  Rose.  Smiths,  Misc.  Coll.   50:    505.      1908. 

Stems  low,  usually  less  than  3  dm.  high,  much  branched,  creeping,  forming  broad,  impenetrable 
masses  2  to  3  meters  in  diameter;  joints  10  to  15  cm.  long,  clavate,  more  or  less  curved,  strongly  tuber- 
culate;  tubercles  3  to  4  cm.  long,  flattened  laterally,  4  to  6  cm.  apart;  spines  numerous,  stout,  elongated, 
somewhat  roughened,  reddish  brown,  the  larger  ones  strongly  flattened,  3.5  to  6  cm.  long;  flowers  yel- 
low, 5  to  6  cm.  broad;  fruit  ovate,  clavate  at  base,  yellow,  5  to  6  cm.  long,  very  spiny,  with  a  depressed 
umbilicus;  seeds  flattened,  4.5  to  6.5  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality.  On  the  del  Norte  and  Gila,  New  Mexico. 

DiitribuUon:   Southwestern   New   Mexico  to  eastern  Arizona  and  adjacent  Mexico. 

O.  stanlyi  was  first  found  October  22,  1846,  by  W.  H.  Emory  on  his  first  trip  across 
the  continent;  he  reported  the  plant  as  abundant  on  the  Del  Norte  and  Gila.  There  has 
been  much  speculation  as  to  what  this  species  is,  for  no  specimens  were  preserved.  Dr. 
George  Engelmann,  who  named  the  species,  based  it  upon  a  sketch  made  by  the  artist  of 
the  expedition,  Mr.  J.  M.  Stanly.  By  a  reference  to  Emory's  itinerary  we  find  that  on  Octo- 
ber 22,  1846,  he  was  in  southwestern  New  Mexico.  In  1908  Dr.  Rose  visited  this  region 
where  he  collected  the  various  species  of  cacti  to  be  found  there.  The  only  plant  which 
we  know  from  that  part  of  New  Mexico  which  could  represent  O.  Uanlyi  is  Opuntia 
etnoryi;  this  was  the  conclusion  reached  by  Wooton  and  Standley,  who,  in  their  Flora  of  New 
Mexico,  have  restored  the  name  O.  stanlyi. 

We  have  referred  Opuntia  kunzei  here  because  recent  specimens  sent  in  by  Dr.  Kunze 
have  taken  on  a  phase  very  much  like  the  true  O.  stanlyi.  There  is  a  possibility  that  O.  kunzei 
should  be  maintained,  for  we  are  not  altogether  convinced  that  certain  material  we  have 
seen  should  be  merged  into  0.  stanlyi.  To  clear  up  this  point,  it  is  hoped  that  someone 
will  collect  and  preserve  a  full  series  of  specimens  showing  flowers,  fruits,  and  seeds. 

/////j-Z/W/ow-f.- Emory,  Mil.  Reconn.  App.  2.  f.  9;  Amer.  Garden  11:  331?;  Cact.  Journ. 
1:  154;  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  70,  71,  these  last  three  as  O/'aw//^  f;«o;7/;  Hornaday,  Camp- 
fires  on  Desert  and  Lava  opp.  p.  116,  this  as  Opuntia  kunzei.  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk. 
38.  f.  1,  as  Opuntia  emoryi;  Nat.  Geogr.  Mag.  21:  pi.  on  p.  716,  as  O.  kunzei. 

Plate  XIV,  figure  3,  represents  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  R.  E.  Kunze  near  Gunsight 
Mountains,  Arizona,  in   1912;   figure  4  shows  a  leaf-bearing  joint  of  the  same  plant. 

48.  Opuntia  schottii  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  304.    1856. 

Prostrate,  rooting  from  the  areoles,  forming  dense  clusters  sometimes  2  or  3  meters  in  diameter; 
joints  clavate,  curved,  ascending,  easily  breaking  off,  6  to  7  cm.  long,  2  cm.  in  diameter  at  thickest 
part,  strongly  tuberculate;  leaves  subulate,  bronze-colored,  6  to  8  mm.  long,  acuminate;  areoles  1  to 
1.5  cm.  apart;  spines  white  and  sheathed  when  young,  soon  brown,  the  larger  ones  sometimes  as  many 
as  12,  very  slender,  sometimes  6  cm.  long,  somewhat  flattened;  wool  white  when  young,  turning  brown; 
glochids  white  when  young,  turning  brown,  4  mm.  long  or  less;  flowers  yellow,  4  cm.  long  including 
ovary;  sepals  narrow,  acuminate;  petals  acuminate;  fruit  yellow,  narrowly  oblong  in  outline,  a  little 
narrowed  at  base,  4  cm.  long,  closely  set  with  areoles  bearing  numerous  short  spines,  bristles  and  white 
wool,  the  umbilicus  depressed;  seeds  yellow,  flattened,  4  mm.  in  diameter,  notched  at  base. 

Type  locality:  Arid  soil  near  the  mouth  of  the  San  Pedro  and  Pecos,  western  Texas. 

Distribution:  Southern  and  western  Texas  and  northern  Mexico. 

Opuntia  schottii  greggii  Engelmann  (Cact.  Mex.  Bound.  68.  pi.  73,  f.  4.  1859),  which 
came  from  near  San  Luis  Potosi,  Mexico,  where  it  was  collected  by  Dr.  J.  Gregg,  in  Decem- 
ber 1848,  is  much  out  of  the  range  of  the  normal  form  and  probably  belongs  elsewhere;  but 
no  specimens  have  been  examined  except  the  type,  which  is  fragmentary.  Engelmann  at 
first  considered  it  a  distinct  species. 

Opuntia  greggii  occurs  only  in  Schumann's  Index  (Gesamtb.  Kakteen  829)  with  page 
references  to  O.  schottii  gi'eggii. 


BRITTON   AND   ROSE 


.,  2.     Parts  of  joints  of  Op/aitia  ewilLi/a.  3-    Upper  part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  iihurarthr& 

4.    Upper  part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  tortispi»a.    (All  three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA. 


81 


49 


Illustration:  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  73,  f.  1  to  3. 

Figure  92  represents  joints  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Langtry,  Texas,  in  1908. 

Opuntia   clavata    Engelmann  in  Wislizenus,  Mem.  Tour  North.  Mex.  95.    1848. 
CiKliis  davatui  Lemaire,  Cactees  88.     1868. 

Plants  low,  not  over  1.5  dm.  high,  much  branched  at  base,  spreading,  forming  large  patches  some- 
times 2  meters  in  diameter;  joints  short,  3  to  7  cm.  long,  turgid,  ascending,  clavate;  areoles  close  to- 
gether; leaves  subulate,  4  to  5  mm.  long;  spines  pale,  somewhat  roughened,  the  radial  ones  6  to  12, 
slender  and  acicular,  4  to  16  mm.  long;  central  spines  4  to  7,  much  longer  than  the  radials,  more  or 
less  flattened,  the  largest  one  dagger-like;  glochids  numerous,  yellowish,  3  to  5  mm.  long;  flowers  yel- 
low, 3.5  to  4  cm.  long;  fruit  4  to  5  cm.  long,  with  numerous  areoles  filled  with  yellow,  radiating  glo- 
chids ;  seeds  white,  5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico. 

Distribution:  New  Mexico,  chiefly  in  the  central  part  of  the  State. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  species  of  the  genus  and  has  no  near  relative 
except  0.  pjyishii.  of  the  deserts  of  California  and  Nevada.  It  is  a  great  pest  to  grazing 
stock. 

lUiistrations:  Bull.  Agr.  Exper.  Station  N.  Mex.  78:  pi.  [1,  2],  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  22, 
f.  1  to  3;  pi.  24,  f.  6.    Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2605. 

Figure  93  represents  joints  of  a  plant  collected  by  W.  T.  H.  Long  at  Albuquerque,  New 
Mexico,  in  1915. 


Fig.  ^^. — Opuntia  schottii.     xO.75.  Fig.  93. — Opuntia  clavata.     xO.75. 

50.    Opuntia  parishii  Orcutt,  West  Amer.  Sci.   10:81.    1896. 

Stems  low,  creeping,  rooting  along  the  under  surface  and  forming  dense,  broad  clusters ;  terminal 
joints  short,  clavate,  ascending  but  almost  hidden  under  the  dense  armament;  tubercles  prominent  but 
short,  5  to  7  mm.  long;  spines  at  first  reddish  but  soon  grayish  and  finally  nearly  white;  radial  spines 
numerous,  slender;  central  spines  about  4,  strongly  angled  and  more  or  less  flattened,  2  to  4  cm.  long; 
glochids  numerous;  flowers  not  known;  fruit  5  cm.  long,  the  numerous  large  areoles  bearing  many 
long  yellow  glochids  and  short  spines  forming  a  radiating  band  about  the  margin ;  seeds  dark,  4  mm. 
broad. 

Type  locality:  Mohave  Desert. 

Distribution:  Southern  California  and  Nevada. 

The  species  here  described  is  the  Opuntia  parryi  as  described  by  Engelmann  in  1856, 
although  he  then  suspected  it  was  different  from  that  species.  It  has  been  renamed  Opuntia 
parishii  by  Orcutt,  who  wrote  as  follows: 

"We  propose  this  name  for  that  interesting  plant  of  the  Mohave  desert  region,  hitherto  called 
O.  parryi,  and  under  which  it  has  been  well  described.  The  Messrs.  Parish  have  hardly  earned  this 
light  honor  in  many  laborious  trips  through  these  desert  regions,  and  I  take  pleasure  in  dedicating  this 
species  to  them;  Opuntia  parryi  (type  from  San  Felipe),  along  with  beriiardina  and  echinocarpa.  and  a 
bewildering  host  of  nameless  forms,  I  unhesitatingly  class  under  serpentina!" 

Illustrations:  Cact.  Journ.  1:  132;  N.  Amer.  Fauna  7:  pi.  10;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  22,  f. 
4  to  7;  pi.  24,  f.  7,  all  as  Opuntia  parryi. 

Figure  94  represents  joints  of  a  plant  collected  by  S.  B.  Parish  in  southern  California. 


82 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


51.   Opuntia  pulchella  Engelmann,  Trans.  St.  Louis  Acad.  2:  201.    1863. 

Low,  10  to  20  cm.  high,  densely  branched,  sometimes  forming  compact  heads  6  dm.  in  diameter, 
main  stem  more  or  less  definite,  covered  with  areoles  bearing  yellow  glochids  10  to  12  mm.  long;  lat- 
eral joints  'i  to  6  cm.  long,  narrowly  clavate,  strongly  tuberculate,  purplish;  areoles  6  to  8  mm.  apart, 
2  to  3  mm.  broad;  spines  10  to  16,  slender,  reddish,  the  longer  ones  5  to  6  cm.  long,  somewhat  flat- 
tened; flower  5  cm.  long,  when  open,  fully  as  broad;  petals  purple,  3  cm.  long;  ovary  2  cm.  long, 
bearing  numerous  areoles  filled  with  white  wool  .md  purple  glochids  10  to  12  mm.  long;  fruit  about 
2.5  cm.  long;  seeds  (according  to  Coulter)  thick  and  round.  4  mm.  in  diameter,  with  broad  flat  com- 
missure. 

Type  locality:  Sandy  deserts  on  Walker  River,  Nevada. 

Distribution:  Nevada  and  Arizona. 

The  plant  was  first  collected  by  Henry  Engelmann  in  1859,  and  brought  to  his  brother, 
Dr.  George  Engelmann.    The  species  does  not  succeed  well  in  cultivation  under  glass. 

Illustiirtion:  Simpson's  Rep.  pi.  3;  MacDougal,  Bot.  N.  Amer.  Des.  pi.  26,  as  O.  pusillu. 

Figure  95  is  from  an  herbarium  specimen  collected  by  Thomas  H.  Means,  at  Fallon, 
Churchill  County,  Nevada,  in  1909. 


rishii.     X  0.66. 


Fig.  95.— Opuntui  pulchelKi.     x  0.66. 


52.    Opuntia   vilis   Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.   12:  293.    1909- 

Low,  creeping,  often  forming  mats  several  meters  in  diameter  and  only  10  to  15  cm.  high;  joints 
prostrate,  becoming  erect  or  ascending,  the  ultimate  vertical  ones  clavate,  5  cm.  long,  the  others  2  to 
4  cm.  long,  very  turgid,  pale  green,  with  low  tubercles;  leaves  terete,  2  to  3  mm.  long,  acute,  red; 
young  areoles  bearing  white  wool;  radial  spines  upward  of  12,  the  number  increasing  with  age  by  the 
addition  of  very  small  whitish  ones;  central  spines  on  prostrate  joints  4,  reddish,  white-tipped,  1  to  4 
cm.  long,  terete,  slightly  scabrous,  with  a  sheath  5  mm.  long,  those  of  clavate  joints  white,  reddish  on 
the  upper  surface  at  the  base,  and  along  the  whole  of  the  lower  surface  flattened;  flowers  4  cm.  long; 
petals  brilliant  purplish,  2  cm.  long;  filaments  bright  yellow  with  green  bases;  style  white;  stigma-lobes 
yellow;  fruit  pale  green,  blackening  in  drying,  2  to  2.5  cm.  in  diameter,  2.5  to  3  cm.  long,  tuberculate, 
especially  about  the  margin  of  the  umbilicus,  spiny,  fluted  above,  somewhat  dry,  with  large  white  seeds. 

Type  locality:  Foot-slopes  and  plains  of  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 
Distribution:  State  of  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 
Illustrations:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  pi.  27;  f.  36. 

Figure  96  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant  taken  by  F.  E.  Lloyd  in  Zacatecas, 
Mexico,  in  1907. 


83 


Fig.  >)6.— Orv)n 


Amer.   Ac.ici    3:  304.    1856. 


33.    Opuntia  bulbispina   Engelmann,   Proc 

Stems  low,  forming  wide-spreading  clumps  6  to  \2  dm.  broad;  joints  ovoid  in  outline,  2  to  2.5 
cm.  long  by  10  to  12  mm.  in  diameter;  tubercles  prominent,  6  to  8  mm.  long;  radial  spines  8  to  12, 
acicular,  3  to  6  mm.  long;  central  spines  4,  much  stouter  than  the  radials,  8  to  12  mm.  long,  bulbose 
at  base;  flower  and  fruit  not  described  in  original  description  and  as  yet  unknown. 

Type  locdlity:  Near  Perros  Bravos,  north  of  Sal- 
tillo,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Coahuila  and  probably  into  Durango, 
Mexico. 

The  type  of  this  species  was  collected  by  Josiah 
Gregg  in  1848  and  it  has  not  with  certainty  been  found 
since;  it  has  been  reported  from  one  or  two  localities, 
but  doubtless  erroneously.  At  one  time  we  supposed 
certain  plants  collected  by  Dr.  Palmer  in  Chihuahua  were 
to  be  thus  referred.  It  is  possible  that  specimens  collected 
by  Dr.  Chaffey  near  Lerdo,  Durango,  may  be  referred 
here,  as  they  have  the  short  joints  of  this  species,  but  the 
central  spines  are  much  longer,  often  reaching  2.5  to  3.5 
cm.  long.  The  type  is  deposited  in  the  Engelmann  Her- 
barium at  St.  Louis,  and  although  the  material  is  poor, 
it  may  yet  serve  to  clear  up  this  species  definitely. 

As  stated  by  Coulter,  this  species  has  been  regarded 
as  the  same  as  O.  tiiniciita.  a  plant  to  which  it  is  very  re- 
motely related. 

Cactus,  bulbispinus  Lemaire.  (Cactees  88.  1868)  was 
intended  as  a  synonym  of  this  species. 

Illustration:  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  73,  f.  5,  6. 

Figure  97  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

54.    Opuntia  grahamii  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  304. 

1856. 

Roots  at  first  thick  and  fleshy,  becoming  woody,  2  cm.  thick  or  more;  plant  low,  much  branched, 
spreading,  forming  low  mounds  often  half  buried  in  the  sand,  sometimes  giving  off  roots  at  the  are- 
oles;  terminal  joints  erect,  clavate,  bright  green,  3  to  5  cm.  long,  with  large  oblong  tubercles;  leaves 
thick,  bronze-colored,  ovate,  acute,  3  to  4  mm.  long;  areoles  about  3  mm.  broad;  wool  white;  spines 
8  to  15,  slender,  slightly  scabrous,  terete  or  some  of  the  larger  ones  slightly  compressed,  white  when 


bulbispina. 


84 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


-Opun 


young,  soon  reddish,  the  longest  3.5  to  6  cm.  long;  glochids  numerous,  slender,  4  mm.  long  or  less, 
white,  turning  brown,  persistent  on  the  old  stems;  flowers  yellow,  5  cm.  broad;  sepals  ovate,  acute, 
about  5  mm.  long;  fruit  oblong  to  ovoid,  3  to  4.5  cm.  long,  its  numerous  areoles  bearing  white  glochids 
and  some  slender  spines;  seeds  beakless,  5  to  5.5  mm.    in    diameter,    the   commissure    indistinct,    linear. 

Type  locality:  Near  El  Paso,  Texas. 

Distribiitio)!:  Western  Texas,  New  Mexico,  and 
adjacent  parts  of  Mexico. 

Tiiis  species  was  named  for  James  Duncan 
Graham,  Colonel,  Corps  of  Engineers,  United  States 
Army,  who  died  December  28,  1865,  at  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. Colonel  Graham  was  for  a  time  chief  of  the 
scientific  corps  of  the  United  States  and  Mexican 
Boundary  Commission,  and  caused  the  specimens  of 
this  plant  to  be  transmitted  to  Dr.  George  Engelmann.  ^"' 

The  plant  succeeds  rather  well  in  cultivation  under  glass. 

Illustrations:  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  72;  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.   102. 

Figure  98  represents  joints  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  on  hills  near  Sierra  Blanca, 
Texas,  in  1913. 

Subgenus  2.   TEPHROCACTUS. 

Includes  all  the  South  American  species  of  Opiintia  which  have  short,  oblong,  or  globular  joints. 
It  is  hardly  to  be  distinguished  from  the  North  American  series  Clavatae.  Four  series  are  recognized. 
The  plants  are  confined  to  Peru,  Chile,  Bolivia,  and  Argentina.    (See  key  to  series,  p.  44.) 

Series  1.  WEBERIANAE. 

Plants  low,  forming  dense  clumps;  joints  subcylindric,  strongly  tuberculate  and  bearing  numer- 
ous spines.  This  series  suggests  Platjopuntia,  while  the  other  series  show  closer  relationship  with  the 
Cylindropuntia.    Only  one  species  known,  inhabiting  the  dry  part  of  northern  Argentina. 

55.    Opuntia  weberi  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:  509.    1905. 

Densely  cespitose,  forming  clumps  2  to  3  dm.  in  diameter  and  10  to  18  cm.  high;  joints  yellowish 
green,  erect,  cylindric,  strongly  tuberculate,  2  to  6  cm.  long,   1.5  to  2  cm.  in  diameter,  densely  spiny; 


;.3^^.^^ii->.rivx^  -^.■•-  ivi'-'  .■•#-;  .^;^*^«wl 


Fig.  99.— Opunti.T  weberi  .is  it  grows  wi 


OPUNTIA  85 

leaves  described  as  wanting;  tubercles  spirally  arranged,  obtuse,  somewhat  4-angied,  5  to  6  mm.  broad; 
areoles  somewhat  depressed;  spines  5  to  7,  brown,  3  to  5  cm.  long,  flexuous,  the  upper  ones  erect;  flowers 
borne  near  the  top  of  the  plant,  small,  solitary;  ovary  somewhat  woolly  below  and  with  short  spines 
above;  flower  rotate,  yellow;  fruit  dry,  white,  10  mm.  in  diameter;  seeds  somewhat  contorted,  bony, 
glabrous. 

Type  locality:   In  Sierra  Pie  de  Palo,  Province  of  San  Juan,  Argentina. 
Distribution:  Mountains  of  Provinces  of  San  Juan  and  Salta,  Argentina. 
This  description,  though  largely  drawn  from  Dr.  Spegazzini's  full  account  of  this  species, 
has    been    amplified    from    examination    made    of    tiie    type.     Dr.    Spegazzini    refers    it    to 


Opuntia  weberi.    Natural  siz 


the  subgenus  Tephiocactus,  and  we  have  followed  him  in  this;  but  it  differs  widely  from 
any  other  known  species  of  that  group  and  its  true  affinity  may  be  elsewhere.  If  the  plant 
is  leafless,  as  Dr.  Spegazzini's  description  implies,  this  is  a  most  interesting  exception  to  the 
character  of  Opuntia. 

Figure  99  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  at  Molinos,  Argentina;  figure  100  is  from 
a  photograph  of  the  type  specimen  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  Spegazzini,  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  both  of  these  illustrations. 


86 


Low  plants,   forming  dense 
long,  white,  silky  hairs.    The  two  specie 


THE  CACTACEAE 

Series  2.    FLOCCOSAE. 

ps  or   mounds;  joints  short,  thick,  and  fleshy 


are  common    m    the   high   valleys   of 

Key  to  Species 


ally  covered  with 
he   Andes   of   Peru   and 


ellow,  stout 56.     O.  fhccoia 

I'hite.  acicular 57.     O.   hguptn 


56.    Opuntia  floccosa  Salm-Dyck,  AUg.  Gartenz.  13:388.    1845. 

Opiintia  senilis  Roezl  in  Morren.  Belg.  Hon.  24:  39.     187-4. 
Opuntia  floccosa  denudau  Weber,  Diet.  Hon.  Bois  897.    1898. 
Opuntia  hempeliana  Schumann.  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  690.    1898. 

Plant  growing  in  clumps  or  low  mounds  sometimes  1  to  2  meters  in  diameter,  with  hundreds  of 
short,  erect  branches;  joints  oblong,  5  to  10  cm.  long,  usually  hidden  under  a  mass  of  long  white 
hairs  coming  from  the  areoles;  spines  usually  one  from  an  areole,  sometimes  as  many  as  three,  yellow, 
1  to  3  cm.  long;  leaves  minute,  green  or  pinkish;  tubercles  somewhat  elevated,  elongated;  flowers, 
small,  3  cm.  long,  yellow;  fruit  globular,  3  cm.  in  diameter:  seeds  1  mm.  in  diameter,  with  very  narrow 
margins. 


Opuntia  floccosa. 


T-^pe  locality:  Said  to  be  from  vicinity  of  Lima,  Peru,  but  doubtless  only  from  the  high 
mountains  east  of  Lima. 

Distribution:  High  mountain  valleys  and  hills  of  the  Andes  from  central  Peru  to  central 
Bolivia. 

O.  floccosa  is  one  of  the  most  unusual  and  striking  species  of  all  the  opuntias.  One  who 
is  familiar  only  with  the  opuntias  of  North  America  would  not  suspect  that  it  belongs  to  the 
genus.  It  does  not  grow  on  the  hot  mesas  in  the  low  country,  as  one  would  expect,  but  in  the 
high,  cold  valleys  and  hills  near  the  top  of  the  Andes.  The  following  paragraph,  taken  from 
John  Ball's  notes,  is  interesting  in  this  connection: 

Reserving  some  remarks  on  the  botany  of  this  excursion,  there  is  yet  to  be  mentioned  here  one  plant 
of  the  upper  region  so  singular  that  it  must  attract  the  notice  of  every  traveler.  As  we  ascended  from 
Casapalta  we  noticed  patches  of  white,  which  from  a  distance  looked  like  snow. 


Seen  nearer  at  hand, 


OPUNTIA  87 

they  had  the  appearance  of  large,  rounded,  flattened  cushions,  some  five  or  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  a 
foot  high,  covered  with  dense  masses  of  floss  silk  that  glistened  with  a  silvery  lustre.  The  unwary 
stranger  who  should  be  tempted  to  use  one  of  these  for  a  seat  would  suffer  from  the  experiment.  The 
plant  is  of  the  cactus  family,  and  the  silky  covering  conceals  a  host  of  long,  slender,  needle-like  spines, 
that  penetrate  the  flesh,  easily  break,  and  are  most  difficult  to  extract.  Unfortunately,  the  living  specimen 
which  I  sent  to  Kew  did  not  survive  the  journey. 

Dr.  Rose  found  the  plant  very  abundant  in  the  Andes  from  3,600  to  4,260  meters  alti- 
tude, while  others  have  reported  it  as  high  as  4,570  meters  altitude.  It  is  very  common,  forming 
everywhere  great,  conspicuous,  usually  white  mounds.  Dr.  Rose  also  found  it  quite  common 
between  Cuzco  and  Juliaca,  in  southwestern  Peru. 

Mr.  O.  F.  Cook,  in  the  Journal  of  Heredity  (8:  113.  1917),  who  has  named  this  plant 
the  polar  bear  cactus,  wrote  of  it  as  follows: 

Many  exposed  slopes  on  the  bleak  plateaus  of  the  high  Andes  are  dotted  with  clumps  of  pure 
white  cacti  that  look  from  a  distance  like  small  masses  of  snow.  On  closer  view,  the  shaggy  white  haii 
of  these  cacti  make  them  appear  like  small  sheep  or  poodle-dogs,  or  like  reduced  caricatures  of  the 
denizens  of  the  arctic  regions.  We  are  so  accustomed  to  think  of  cacti  primarily  as  desert  plants,  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  hot,  dry  deserts,  that  they  seem  distinctly  out  of  place  on  the  cold  plateaus  of  the  high 
Andes  of  southern  Peru. 

While  most  of  the  plants  are  covered  with  long  white  hairs,  plants  without  hairs  are 
not  uncommon.  These  naked  plants,  which  are  characteristic  of  the  whole  clump  or  colony, 
appear  at  first  sight  very  unlike  the  other  forms,  but  they  grow  in  the  same  region  and  have 
the  same  kind  of  flowers  and  fruits.  In  cultivated  plants  few  hairs  are  developed.  The  variety 
denudata  Weber  seems  to  be  only  one  of  these  naked  forms. 

Opuntia  involuta  Otto  (F5rster,  Handb.  Cact.  505.  1846)  was  not  published,  but  was 
given  as  a  synonym  of  this  species.  It  was  used  the  year  before  (Salm-Dyck,  Allg.  Gartenz. 
13:  388.    1845)  as  a  synonym  of  O.  vestita. 

Illustrations:  Engler  and  Drude,  Veg.  Erde  12:  pi.  14;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  11:  41, 
44,  these  last  two  as  Opuntia  hempeliana;  Journ.  Heredity  8:  f.  3  to  8. 

Plate  XIII,  figure  2,  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Mr.  O.  F.  Cook  in  the  high  mountains 
of  eastern  Peru.  Figure  101  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  fragment  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr. 
Rose  in  1914,  at  Araranca,  Peru. 

57.    Opuntia  lagopus  Schumann,  Gesamtb.    Kakteen  Nachtr.  151.    1903. 

Plants  cespitose,  growing  in  compact  mounds;  joints  stout,  cylindric,  10  cm.  long,  3  to  3.5  cm.  in 
diameter,  densely  covered  with  long  white  hairs;  leaves  minute,  hidden  under  the  wool,  7  mm.  long; 
spines  solitary,  white,  2  cm.  long,  slender;  glochids  white,  bristle-like;  flowers  probably  red;  fruit  not 
known. 

Type  locality:   Mountains  of  Bolivia  above  Arequipa,  Peru. 

Distribution :  On  the  plains  of  the  high  Andes  of  Peru  and  Bolivia  (altitude  4,000 
meters) . 

This  species  is  related  to  O.  floccosa,  with  which  it  often  grows,  but  it  takes  on  a  very 
different  habit,  growing  in  very  dense,  peculiar  rounded  mounds  much  higher  than  those 
formed  by  O.  floccosa. 

Illustration:  Engler  and  Drude,  Veg.  Erde  12:  pi.  14. 

Figure  102  is  from  a  photograph  by  H.  L.  Tucker,  near  Laxsa,  Peru,  in  1911. 

Series  3.    GLOMERATAE. 

Plants  low,  composed  of  globose  or  oblong  joints,  the  spines,  or  some  of  them,  modified  into  flat 
papery  processes.    We  recognize  two  species,  confined  to  western  Argentina. 

Key  to  Species 

Central  spines  papery;  radial  spines  subulate 58.   O.   australis 

Spines,  when  present,  all  developed  into  long  papery  processes 59.   O.  glomerata 


THE  CACTACEAE 


58.    Opuntia  australis  Weber,    Diet.    Hort.    Bois 
896.    1898. 

Pterocactus  valentinii  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Soc. 
Cient.  Argentina  48:  51.  189V. 
Plants  often  with  large  roots,  these  5  to  8  cm. 
long  by  2  to  3  cm.  in  diameter  and  larger  than 
the  parts  above  ground;  joints  described  as  cu- 
cumber-shaped, usually  6  to  8  cm.  long  by  1  to 
2  cm.  in  diameter,  but  apparently  often  much 
smaller,  tuberculate;  radial  spines  10  to  15,  spread- 
ing, white,  short,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  central  spines 
1  or  2,  much  longer  than  the  radials,  2  cm.  long, 
erect,  flattened,  and  somewhat  papery;  flowers 
yellow,  2  to  3  cm.  broad;  seeds  said  to  be  rugose. 

Type  locality:  Between  Santa  Cruz 
River  and  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  Argentina. 

Distributiofi:  The  southernmost  parts  of 
Argentina. 

We  have  recently  examined  three  col- 
lections of  this  plant  made  by  Carl  Skotts- 
berg  in  the  Territory  of  Santa  Cruz,  which  in 
the  main  agree  with  Weber's  description. 
We  have  also  seen  Pterocactus  vahnthm, 
which  is  the  same  as  Skottsberg's  plant. 

Dr.  Spegazzini  records  this  species  as  being  in  Santa  Cruz,  Argentina;  but  as  he  regards 
the  plant  collected  there  by  him  as  only  a  variety  of  O.  darwiiiii,  we  are  inclined  to  believe 
he  must  have  collected  something  else. 

This  species,  which  is  found  at  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  extends  farther  south  than  any 
other  cactus  known  to  us. 


— Opuntia  australis. 
joints,  and  flower.    1 


OPUNTIA  89 

Figure  103  is  from  a  photograph  of  an  herbarium  specimen  collected  by  Carl  Skottsberg 
in  the  Territory  of  Santa  Cruz,  Patagonia,  in  1908. 

59-    Opuntia   glomerata    Haworth,  Phil.    Mag.  7:  HI.    1830. 

116.  1833. 


Opu 
Cere 
Cere 
opu 
opu 
opu 
opu 
opu 
opu 
opu 

Opunlu,  M, 
Opuul,.,.., 
Opuulu  pi 
Opnnu.,  /-, 
Opuni.a  pi 
Opunt,.,  /..; 
Opunua.y 
Opunlu  pi 
Forming  low,  spreadin 


I  artkulala  Otto,  Allg.  Gartenz.   1 :    1 

arliculatus  Pfeiffer,  Enum.    Cact.   103.     1837. 

syringacanthus  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  103.  1837. 

iplutyacantha  Salm-Dyck   in  Pfeiffer,  Allg.   Gartenz.  5:371.    1837. 

iluherosa  spinoui   Pfefffer,   Enum.   Cact.  116.      18.^7. 

landicola  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  145.    1857. 

I  il'uiclemata  Lemaire,   Cact.  Aliq.  Nov.   36.    1838. 

ilurpinii  Lemaire,  Cact.  Aliq.  Nov.  36.    1838. 

ijiiilicriln  elongiita  Lemaire,  Cact.   Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  72. 

I  .»;./;,■-.',•   ',v,';;  ,r-;.- ;   Lemaire,  Cact.   Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  12 

i.:i:.l:.     '      ■  I     ii.iiie,   Cact.  Gen.  Nov.  .Sp.  72.    II 

a.ili.,    I.!,    ,1-      1     ,1     l.cn.   Nov.   Sp.    7t.      1859. 

'/'/.,/!, „,,-.',    ,;,,.■,.,    Salm-Dyck,   Cact.  Hort.  Dyck. 

■  l>L,i).n.,rih.i   „;,.,;ulU,  Salm-Dyck,   Cact.  Hort.  Dycl 

■  plil),H  uiiIki  JcjhMspiiij  Salm-Dyck.  Cat!.  Hon.  D 
'  I'.ipyi.iL.inlh.i  Philippi,  Gartenflora  21:  120.  18-2. 
!  i)nii,KJtdiilhj   Schumann,   Monatsschr.    Kakteenk.  6:   156.    1896. 

Walton,   Cact.   Journ.    1:  105.    1898. 
clumps,  the  branches  either  erect  or  prostrate 


1839. 
1839. 


84.i.  43.    1845. 
18-19.    71.    1850. 
k.      1849.    245.     1850. 


joints  globular,  3  to  6  cm. 
diameter,  often  in  cultivated  specimens  even  smaller,  dull  grayish  brown,  hardly  tuberculate  except 
in  drying;  areoles  large,  bearing  numerous  long,  brown  glochids;  spines  often  wanting,  when  present 
1  to  3,  long,  weak,  thin  and  papery,  hardly  pungent,  either  white  or  brownish,  sometimes  10  cm.  long; 
flowers  light  yellow,  small;  fruit  globose,   1   to   1.5  cm.  long,  dry;  seeds  corky. 

Type  locality:  Brazil,  according  to  Haworth, 
but  erroneously. 

Distribution:  Western  Argentina.  It  has  also 
been  referred  to  Brazil  and  Chile,  but  surely  not 
found  in  Brazil,  and  we  should  not  expect  it  to 
inhabit  Chile.  (Extend  range  to  central  and 
northern  Argentina. — Appendix.) 

The  plant  figured  by  Nicholson  (Diet.  Gard. 
2:  f.  755)  as  O.  platyacantha  hardly  belongs  here. 

O.  glomerata,  which  is  common  on  the  dry 
hills  about  Mendoza,  is  very  variable,  especi- 
ally as  to  whether  it  is  spine-bearing  or  not; 
while  the  spines — which  are  really  not  spines  but 
thin  ribbon-like  processes — vary  much  as  to  their 
color,  markings,  and  length.  These  variations  are  partly 
the  cause  of  so  many  synonyms  for  the  species.  Dr. 
Rose,  who  visited  the  region  in  which  this  species  grows, 
found  wide  variation  in  the  size  of  the  joints,  as  well 
as  in  the  absence  or  presence  of  spines. 

Tephrocactus  diadematus  Lemaire  (Cact.  88. 
1868),  r.  turpinii  Lemaire  (Cact.  88.  1868), 
Opuntia  polymorpha  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  103.  1837) ,  and  Opuntia  turpinii  polymorpha  Salm- 
Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  71.  1850)  are  usually  given  as  synonyms  of  Opuntia  diadein- 
ata,  but  none  of  them  was  actually  published.  Opuntia  polymorpha  Pfeiffer  was  used  by  Pfeif- 
fer as  a  synonym  for  Cereus  articulatus  Pfeiffer. 

Tephrocactus  polyacanthus  (Index  Kewensis  Suppl.  1:  421)  was  intended  for  T.  platya- 
canthus  Lemaire  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  915.  1885). 

Tephrocactus  andicolus,  T.  calvus,  and  T.  platyacanthus,  all  of  Lemaire  (Cact.  88.  1868), 
without  descriptions,  are  referred  here  by  inference. 

Spegazzini  (Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:  511.  1905)  describes  three  varieties  of 
this  species  under  O.  diademata,  from  Argentina,  as  follows:  inermis,  oligacantha,  and  polya- 
cantha;  while  Weber  (Dia.  Hort.  Bois  896.  1898)  under  the  same  name  describes  var.  calva, 
but  these  all  seem  to  be  forms  of  this  very  variable  species. 


-Opuntia  gl 


90  THE  CACTACEAE 

The  following  varietal  names,  under  Opuntia  gluiueiula  var.  albispiiui  Forster  (Handb. 
Caa.  472.  1846),  var.  jiavisphia  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  43.  1845),  and  var. 
minor  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  71.  1850),  are  mentioned  in  the  places  cited, 
but  not  described. 

Opuutia  horizontal'n  Gillies  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  145.  1837)  was  used  as  a  synonym 
of  Opuntia  andkola,  and  should  be  referred  here. 

Opuntia  pelaguensis  (Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  71.  1850)  was  published  as  a 
synonym  of  Opuntia  platyacantha  deflexispina. 

Opuntia  andicola  minor,  an  unpublished  variety,  is  mentioned  by  name  only  in  Monats- 
schrift  far  Kakteenkunde  (10:  48.  1900). 

Illustrations:  Cact.  Journ.  1:  100,  as  Opuntia  andicola:  Engler  and  Prantl,  Plianzenfam. 
3'^:  f.  56,  K.;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  34:  f.  39;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  13:  23,  these  three  as  Opim- 
tia  diademata.  Caa.  Journ.  1:  February;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  Suppl.  f.  607;  Forster,  Handb. 
Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  125;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  23:  f.  129;  29:  f.  63;  Gartenflora  21:  pi.  721,  f.  2;  Watson, 
Cact.  Cult.  ed.  1  and  2.  257.  f.  97;  ed.  3.  f.  60,  all  as  Opuntia  papyracantha;  Cact.  Journ.  1: 
105,  as  Opuntia  plumosa  nivea;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  2:  503.  f.  755;  MoUers  Deutsche  Gart. 
Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  1,  as  O.  platyacantha;  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  45.  f.  7,  as  O.  andi- 
cola; De  Laet,  Cat.  Gen.  f.  60;  Rev.  Hort.  Belg.  40:  after  186;  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  44.  f. 
6;  Moellers  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9-  No.  2,  as.  2,  as  O.  diademata. 

Figure  104  represents  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Mendoza,  Argentina,  in  1915. 

Opuntia  schumannii  Spegazzini  (Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:  511.  1905,  not  Ber- 
ger,  1904)  is  a  homonym,  and  we  hesitate  to  give  it  a  new  name  until  it  is  better  known. 
The  type  comes  from  Salta,  Argentina,  from  a  region  where  we  already  have  a  number  of 
species  of  Tephrocactus.  Spegazzini,  who  described  it,  says  it  is  related  to  0.  diademata,  which 
is  now  referred  to  O.  glomerata,  but  is  very  distinct.  It  is  without  spines  and  the  flowers  are 
unknown. 

Series  4.  PENTLANDIANAE. 

Plants  often  growing  in  large  mounds;  joints  globular  to  oblong;  spines  usually  slender,  acicular 
to  subulate.    Seventeen  species  are  here  recognized. 

Key  to  Species 

Spines  very  long  and  stout,  up  to  15  to  20  cm.  long 60.   O.  aoiacantija 

Spines  slender,  10  cm.  long  or  less. 
Spines  appressed  to  the  joints. 

Spines  12  to  20,  flexuous;  |omts  7  cm.  long 61.   O.  rjuppiana 

Spines  6  or  7;  joints  2  to  4  cm.  long 62.   0.  sublerranea 

Spines  straight,  not  appressed. 
Spines  flat  or  semiterete. 

Spines  7  to  10  cm.  long 63.  O.  hickenii 

Spines  6  cm.  long  or  less. 
Longer  spines  1  to  3. 

Joints  ellipsoid,  4  to  5  cm.  thick 64.   O.  daruinii 

Joints  oblong,   1   cm.  thick 65.  O.  tarapacana 

Longer  spines  4  or  5. 

Spines   gray 66.  O.  atacamensis 

Spines    yellow 67.  O.  russellii 

Spines  terete. 

Spines  white,  at  least  when  young. 

Joints   tuberculate 68.  O.  cunugjtj 

Joints  not  tuberculate. 

Joints  oblong 69.  O.  ar^ui 

Joints   globose 70.   O.  sphaerica 

Spines  yellow  to  brown  or  nearly  black. 

Roots  large  and  woody;  spines  nearly  black 71.   O.  skottsbergii 

Roots  fibrous. 

Spines  purple-black 72.   O.  nigrhpina 

Spines  yellow  to  brown. 

Plants  forming  large  clumps. 

Fruit  about  2.5  cm.  long,  nearly  unarmed 73.   O.  pentlandii 

Fruit  5  to  6  cm.  long,  copiously  armed  with  long  spines  above.  .  .    74.   O.  ignescens 
Plants  isolated,  not  forming  clumps. 

Old  joints  globose;  spines  acicular 75.  O.  campestris 

Joints  all   oblong;   spines  subulate 76.   O.  ignota 


OPUNTIA  91 

60.  Opuntia  aoracantha  Lemaire,  Cact.   Aliq.  Nov.  34.      18.3H. 

Cereui  oijtut   Pfeiffer,   Fnum.  Cact.    102.    18^7.    Noi  Opunti.i  m,,!.,  Pfeiffei.  I.e.   111.    1«.^7. 

Opuyjlia  foTmidahHn  Walton,  Cact.  Journ.  1:  lO-i.  1898. 
Usually  low,  cespitose,  forming  clumps  2  to  5  dm.  in  diameter  and  sometimes  1  to  2  dm.  high; 
branches  grayish,  either  erect  or  prostrate,  made  up  of  5  to  10,  perhaps  even  more,  globular  joints; 
joints  easily  detached,  freely  rooting  and  starting  new  colonies,  5  to  8  cm.  in  diameter,  strongly  tuber- 
culate  especially  when  young,  the  lower  part  spineless,  the  upper  areoles  large,  spine-bearing;  spines 
brown  or  blackish,  1  to  7,  the  longer  ones  13  cm.  long,  straight,  a  little  flattened,  roughish  to  the  touch; 
flowers  white;  fruit  short-oblong,  3  cm.  long,  red,  weakly  tuberculate,  bearing  numerous  areoles,  usually 
naked  but  sometimes  bearing  a  few  short  spines  near  the  top,  becoming  dry;  umbilicus  of  fruit  broad 
and  depressed  ;  seeds  white,  flattened,  4  to  5  mm.  broad,  the  margins  thick  and  corky. 


)S. — Opuntia  aoracan 


Type  locality:  Not  cited,  but  doubtless  from  Mendoza. 

Distribution:   Western  provinces  of  Argentina,  from  Mendoza  to  Jujuy. 

Opuntia  gilliesii  Pfeififer  (Enum.  Cact.  102.  1837,  as  synonym)  and  Tephrocactus  aora- 
canthus  Lemaire  (Cact.  89.  1868)  are  usually  given  as  synonyms  of  this  species,  but  they 
were  not  described  in  the  places  usually  cited,  and  as  here  given.  Opuntia  acracantha  Wal- 
pers  (Report.  Bot.  2:  354.    1843)  is  a  typographical  error. 

O.  aoracantha.  although  described  nearly  80  years  ago,  is  practically  unknown  in  collec- 
tions and  has  been  very  poorly  described.  The  fruit  has  heretofore  been  unknown.  Dr.  Rose 
found  it  in  1915  in  great  abundance  growing  on  dry,  rocky  hills  west  of  Mendoza,  although 
in  but  one  locality.   A  bountiful  supply  of  living  material  was  sent  home,  several  photographs 


92 


THE  CACTACEAE 


were  taken,  and  fruit  and  seeds  obtained. 

Opiint'ia  tiiben]orniis  Philippi  (Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Chile  1891":  28.  1891),  referred  here 
by  Schumann,  doubtless  belongs  elsewhere.  It  may  possibly  belong  to  some  Platyopuntia,  for 
it  is  described  as  having  ovate  joints  only  5  mm.  thick.  It  comes  from  the  foot  of  the  Andes  in 
the  Province  of  Tarapaca,  Chile. 

Illustrations:  Gard.  Chron.  III.  34:  f.  40;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  12:  172;  Schelle, 
Handb.  Kakteenk.  44.  f.  5;  Cact.  Journ.  1:  105,  the  last  as  O.  jormidabilis. 

Figure  105  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Mendoza,  Argentina, 
in  1915. 

61.  Opuntia  rauppiana  Schumann,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:   118. 

1899. 

Joints  ellipsoid,  rounded  at  each  end,  somewhat  tuberculate, 
dark  green  or  becoming  grayish  green,  7  cm.  long  by  4  cm.  in 
greatest  diameter;  glochids  yellow,  5  cm.  long;  spines  12  to  14, 
sometimes  as  many  as  20,  very  weak,  almost  bristle4ike,  2  cm.  long, 
hardly  pungent. 

Type  locality:  In  the  Andes. 

Distribution:  Bolivia,  according  to  Schumann. 

Little  is  known  of  the  habit  of  this  plant,  as  only  one 
joint  is  figured  and  this  appears  to  be  a  sickly  greenhouse 
specimen.  It  suggests  some  of  the  species  which  grow  in 
large  clumps  like  the  one  figured  as  Opuntia  grata  by  Fries. 

Illustrations:  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:  118;  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  Nachtr.  f. 
36  (same). 

Figure  106  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

62.  Opuntia  subterranea  R.  E.  Fries,  Nov.  Act.  Soc.  Sci.  Upsal.  IV.  1^:  122.      1905. 

Almost  buried  in  the  sand,  simple  or  few-branched  from  a  thick  root  7  to  12  cm.  deep:  joints 
terete,  2  to  4  cm.  long;  tubercles  low;  spines  1  to  7,  all  radial,  short,  whitish,  recurved,  appressed; 
flowers  lateral,  brownish;  ovary  small,  with  a  depressed  umbilicus,  its  areoles  bearing  small  glochids 
and  a  little  wool;  fruit   12  to   15  mm.   long;  seeds  3  mm.  broad,  irregular. 


Fig.  107.— Opuntia  subterr 


Fig.  108— Opuntia  hickenii.   xO.6. 


OPUNTIA  93 

Type  locality:   Near  Moreno,  Jujuy,  Argentina. 
Distribution:   Northern  Argentina  and  adjacent  Bolivia. 

This  peculiar  little  plant,  heretofore  known  only  from  the  type  collection,  was  obtained 
by  Dr.  Shafer  on  stony  plains  at  Villazon,  Bolivia,  in  February  1917,  but  was  not  in  bloom 
Illustration:   Nov.  Act.  Soc.  Sci.  Upsal.  IV.  1':  pi.  8,  f.  4  to  8. 
Figure  107  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

63.  Opuntia  hickenii  sp.  nov. 

Low,  cespitose,  forming  clusters  1  meter  in  diameter;  joints  globular,  3  to  5  cm.  in  diameter, 
strongly  tuberculate,  the  lower  tubercles  usually  spineless;  areoles  rather  large,  circular;  spines  2  to  5, 
flat  and  thin,  narrow,  weak,  pungent,  5  to  12  cm.  long,  silvery-colored  but  nearly  black  in  age;  flow- 
ers yellow;  fruit  not  known. 

Type  in  United  States  National  Herbarium,  No.  603229,  from  Puerto  Madryn,  Chubut, 
Argentina,  collected. by  Cristobal  M.  Hicken. 

Common  in  Chubut  and  Rio  Negro,  southern  Argentina,  where  it  was  collected  several 
times  by  Dr.  Hicken,         . 

Figure  108  represents  the  type  specimen  above  cited.   . 

Mr.  W.  B.  Alexander  suggests  that  Opuntia  platyacct)itha  Spegazzini  (not  Salm-Dyck) 
is  probably  a  synonym  of  this  species. 

A  photograph  of  a  plant  from  San  Juan,  Argentina,  communicated  by  Dr.  Spegazzini, 
indicates  another  species  of  this  relationship. 

64.  Opuntia  darwinii  Henslow,  Mag.  Zool.  Bot.  1:  466.      1837. 

Low,  perhaps  not  more  than  2  to  4  cm.  high,  much  branched  at  base  from  a  more  or  less  elon- 
gated woody  root;  joints  normally  few,  nearly  globular,  about  3  cm.  in  diameter,  or  often  nearly 
cylindric,  frequently  numerous  and  small  and  growing  out  from  the  main  axis,  then  only  5  to  10  mm. 
in  diameter;  areoles  large,  filled  with  wool,  the  lower  ones  spineless;  spines  1  to  3,  nearly  erect,  the 
longest  one  3  to  3.5  cm.  long,  yellow  or  reddish  yellow,  decidedly  flattened;  flowers  originally  de- 
scribed as  larger  than  the  joints,  but  certainly  often  much  smaller;  petals  yellow,  broad,  with  a  trun- 
cate or  depressed  top  and  usually  with  a  mucronate  tip;  ovary,  in  specimens  seen,  only  2  cm.  long, 
covered  with  large  woolly  areoles ;  styles  described  as  stout,  with  9  thick  radiating  stigma-lobes. 

Type  locality:    Port  Desire,  Patagonia,  latitude  47°  south. 

Distribution:  Southern  Argentina. 

This  species  seems  to  be  common  in  that  part  of  Patagonia  known  now  as  the  Terri- 
tory of  Santa  Cruz,  Argentina.  We  have  recently  examined  four  separate  collections  made 
in  this  region,  especially  one  from  about  Lake  Buenos  Aires  and  on  the  Fenix  River  by  Carl 
Skottsberg,  in  1907-1909. 

The  plant  is  in  cultivation  in  Europe  and  is  offered  for  sale  by  cactus  dealers. 

It  was  first  collected  by  Charles  Darwin,  but  only  a  single  joint  was  taken,  which  was 
described  and  figured  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Henslow.  The  illustration  of  the  flowers  seems  too  large, 
but  otherwise  represents  fairly  well  the  plant  as  we  know  it.  The  following  interesting  note 
is  taken  from  Mr.  Henslow's  article  as  it  appeared  in  the  Magazine  of  Zoology  and  Botany, 
volume  I,  page  467  : 

I  have  named  this  interesting  Cactus  after  my  friend  C.  Darwin,  Esq.,  who  has  recently  returned 
to  England,  after  a  five  years'  absence  on  board  H.  M.  S.  Beagle,  whilst  she  was  employed  in  sur- 
veying the  southernmost  parts  of  South  America.  The  specimen  figured  was  gathered  in  the  month 
of  January,  at  Port  Desire,  lat.  47°  S.  in  Patagonia.  He  recollects  also  to  have  seen  the  same  plant 
in  flower  as  far  south  as  Port  St.  Julian  in  lat.  49°  S.  It  is  a  small  species  growing  close  to  the 
ground  on  arid  gravelly  plains,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  sea.  The  flowers  had  one  day  arrested 
his  attention  by  the  great  irritability  which  their  stamens  manifested  upon  his  inserting  a  piece  of 
straw  into  the  tube,  when  they  immediately  collapsed  round  the  pistil,  and  the  segments  of  the  peri- 
anth soon  after  closed  also.  He  had  intended  to  procure  fresh  specimens  on  the  following  day,  and 
returned  to  the  ship  with  the  one  now  figured,  but  unfortunately  she  sailed  immediately  afterwards, 
and  he  was  prevented  from  obtaining  any  more.  The  geographical  position  of  this  .species  is  beyond 
the  limits  hitherto  assigned  to  any  of  the  order,  which   are   not   recorded   as   growing  much   south   of 


94 


THE  CACTACEAE 


the  tropic  of  Capricorn.  The  cHmate  is  remarkably  dry  and  clear,  hot  in  summer,  but  with  sharp 
frosts  during  the  winter  nights.  He  found  Cacti  both  abundant  and  of  a  large  size,  a  little  farther 
to  the  north  at  Rio-Negro  in  latitude  41"  S. 

Illustration:   Mag.  Zool.  Bot.  1:  pi.  14,  f.  1. 

Figure  109  is  copied  from  a  photograph  of  an  herbarium  specimen  collected  by  Carl 
Skottsberg  in  Patagonia  in  1908. 

64a.  Opuntia  wetmorei  sp.  nov.    (Appendix  following  page  226). 

65.    Opuntia  tarapacana  Philippi,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Chile  1891  =  :  27.      1891. 

Opiintid  rahmeri  Philippi,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Chile  1891  =  :  27.  1891. 

Low,  cespitose  plants;  joints  small,  ovoid,  about  2  cm.  long  by  1  cm.  thick,  bearing  spines  from 
white  woolly  areoles  at  tips;  spines  usually  3,  straight,  12  to  15  mm.  long,  white  with  yellowish  tips; 
flowers  yellow;  petals  21    mm.   long;  ovary  elongated,  2  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Calalaste,  Chile. 

Distribution:  Known  only  from  type  locality,  although  Schumann  in  his  Keys  refers  this 
species  to  Bolivia. 

Although  the  type  of  this  species  is  preserved  in  the  Museum  at  Santiago,  Chile,  it  is 
insufficient  to  enable  us  to  give  a  very  full  description.  It  seems  distinct  from  the  other  spe- 
cies of  the  group. 


0. — O.  atacamensis.    xi).6.  Fit,. 

66.  Opuntia  atacamensis  Philippi,  Fl.  Atac.  24.      I860. 

?  Pereskia  glomerataPfeifier,  Enum.   Cact.  179-  1837.    Not  Opuntia  glonierala  Haworth.    1830. 

Growing  in  large,  dense  clusters  sometimes  6  dm.  broad  and  3  dm.  high;  joints  ovoid,  2.5  cm 
long  by  2  cm.  in  diameter;  areoles  in  5  to  7  series,  the  lower  ones  with  wool  and  very  short  spines; 
upper  areoles  each  bearing  1  erect  central  spine  18  to  25  mm.  long,  yellow  or  reddish;  radial  spines 
2  to  4,  strongly  appressed,  2  mm.  long;  flowers  yellow. 

Type  locality:  Profetas,  Chile;  also  Puquios,  23°  50'  south  latitude. 

Distribution:  On  the  high  central  deserts  of  northern  Chile  at  an  altitude  of  2,700  to 
3,300  meters. 

We  have  not  seen  the  type  of  this  species,  and  our  reference  of  Pereskia  glowerata  here 
may  not  be  correct. 

Illustration:  Nov.  Act.  Soc.  Set.  Upsal.  IV. 1':  pi.  1,  as  Opuntia  grata. 

Figure  110  represents  a  plant  obtained  by  Dr.  Rose  at  the  Botanical  Garden,  Santiago, 
Chile,  in  1914. 

67.  Opuntia  russellii  sp.  nov. 

Forming  small,  compact  clumps  I  to  2  dm.  in  diameter;  joints  small,  globular  to  obovoid,  dull 
green  to  more  or  less  purplish,  2  to  4  cm.  long,  very  spiny  near  the  top ;  leaves  minute,  acute,  soon 
falling;  prominent  spines  3  to  6,  yellow,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  slightly  flattened;  accessory  spines  1  to 
several,  1  cm.  long  or  less;  glochids  at  first  inconspicuous,  but  in  time  very  abundant,  sometimes  2 
cm.  long,  somewhat  persistent;  flowers  not  known;  fruit  globular,  2  to  2.5  cm.  in  diameter,  spineless; 
seeds  pale,  4  mm.  broad. 

Collected  by  J.  N.  Rose  and  Paul  G  .Russell  on  the  dry  hills  at  Potrerillos,  Mendoza, 


OPUNTIA 


95 


Argentina,  September  2,  1915  (No.  21002). 

This  is  a  common  species  in  the  foothills  of  the  Andes,  in  the  Province  of  Mendoza, 
where  it  forms  low  mounds  along  with  other  cacti. 

Figure  111  represents  joints  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited. 

68.  Opuntia  corrugata  Salm-Dyck,   Hort.   Dyck.   360.      1834. 

Opnnli.i  ehurnea,  Lemaire,  Cact.  Aliq.  Nov.   ,^5.    183S. 
Opiinlij  retrosphtoia  Lemaire,  Cact.   Aliq.   Nov.  S'i.    1S^8. 
OpNiilhi  pjimentieri  Pfeiflfer,   Allg.   Gartenz,   6:  276.    1838. 

More  or  less  cespitose;  joints  3.5  cm.  long,  8  to  12  mm.  in  diameter,  orbicular  to  cylindric,  often 
erect,  attenuate  at  both  ends,  light  green,  the  terminal  one  often  flattened;  glochids  minute,  yellowish: 
spines  6  to  8,   acicular,  8  to   12   mm.   long,  white;  flowers  reddish;  fruit  red. 

Type  locality:  None  given. 

Distribution:    Northwestern  Argentina,  according  to  later  writers. 

Lemaire  (Cact.  88.  1868)  uses  the  names  Cactm  conugatm  and  C.  ehtirneus.  both  of 
which  Schumann  refers  here. 

TephrocactHS  vetrospinosus  Lemaire  (Cact.  88.  1868)  is  placed  by  Lemaire  in  his  third 
section  of  Tepbroccictiis.  but  it  is  without  description.  It  is  dt)ubtless  the  same  as  Opuntia 
retrospinosa  Lemaire,  which  belongs  here. 

Tephrocactus  rectrospinus  (Index  Kewensis  Suppl.  1:  421)  is  a  misspelling  for  T.  rectro- 
spinosus  Lemaire. 

Opuntia  aulacothele  Weber  (Gosselin,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  10:  392.  1904),  which 
was  described  without  flowers  or  fruit,  may  be  of  this  alliance.  It  comes  from  San  Rafael, 
Argentina. 

0/>/^«//W  co?7Z/^d/<3,  mentioned  in  Bailey's  Standard  Cyclopedia  of  Horticulture  (4:  2367. 
1916),  is  a  misspelling  of  this  name. 

Opuntia  corrugata  monvillei  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  72.  1850)  was  not 
described. 

Opuntia  longispina  Haworth  (Phil.  Mag. 7:  HI.  1830),  when  first  described,  was  sup- 
posed to  have  come  from  Brazil;  the  Index  Kewensis  refers  it  to  Chile;  while  Schumann  treats 
it  in  a  note  under  O.  corrugata  as  an  Argentine  species.  It  may  not  be  an  Opuntia  but  a 
Maihuenia. 

Illustration'^-    MoUers  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  11;  488.  f.  22,  No.  8. 

69.  Opuntia  ovata  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  144.      1837. 

Opuntia  onillei  Remy  in  Gay.  Fl.  Chilena  3:  29.    184^. 
Opuntia  gi.ita  Philippi,  Linnaea  30:   211.    1859. 
Opuntia  monticola  Philippi,   Linnaea  33:  82.     186-1. 

Low,  branching,  cespitose  plants;  joints  yellowish  green, 
some  deep  purple  when  young,  subcylindric  to  ellipsoid,  3 
cm.  long;  spines  5  to  9,  4  to  10  mm.  long,  when  young 
brownish,  in  age  white;  fruit  ovoid;  umbilicus  curved  out- 
ward. 

Type  locality:   Mendoza,  Argentina. 

Distribution:   Mountains  of  Argentina  and  Chile. 

Opuntia  oroides  Lemaire  (Cact.  Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  73.  1839)  and  Cactus  ovoides  Lemaire 
(Cact.  88.  1868)  are  usually  cited  as  synonyms  for  Opuntia  ovata;  they  are  unpublished  names. 

This  species  forms  low  clumps,  each  branch  consisting  of  2  to  5  joints.  Dr.  Rose  found  it 
abundant  in  the  Andes  above  Mendoza  and  it  has  also  been  reported  from  the  Chilean  side 
of  the  Andes.  Colonies  differ  in  armament.  In  cultivation  some  of  the  joints  are  elongated 
and  club-shaped. 

Opuntia  pusilla  Salm-Dyck  (Observ.  Bot.  3:  10.  1822.  Not  Haworth,  1812)  was  referred 
by  Schumann  to  O.  corrugata.  We  have  seen  a  photograph  of  Haworth's  specimen  (bearing 
the  date  November  8,  1824)  which  seems  to  answer  to  Salm-Dyck's  plant  which  we  would 
refer  here. 

Illustration:    Schumann  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  105,  as  Opuntia  grata. 


96 


THE  CACTACEAE 


Figure  112  shows  joints  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1915  at  Potrerillos, 
Argentina. 

70.    Opuntia  sphaerica  Forster,  Hamb.  Gartenz.  17:  167.      1861. 
Opuntia  dimorpha  Forster,  Hamb.  Gartenz.    17:   167.    1861. 

Opuntia  leonina  Haage  and  Schmidt  in  Kegel  and  Schmidt,  Gartenflora  30:  413.    1881. 
Opuntia  leucophaea  Philippi.  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.   Chile  1891^:  27.    1891. 
Opuntia  orata  leonina  Schelle,   Handb.  Kakteenk,  46.    1907. 
Opuntia  corotilla  Schumann  in  Vaupel,  Bot.  Jahrb.  Engler  Beibl.  Ill:  28.    1913. 
Plants  often  erect,   always  low,  usually   few-branched,  often  forming  large  patches;  joints  usually 
globular,    12   to  40  cm.   in  diameter;   areoles  large,  numerous,  sometimes  nearly  hiding  the  surfaces  of 
the   joints    with    their   short   brown    wool;    spines    variable   as   to   number,    sometimes    few,    sometimes 
numerous,   brown   at   first,    in   age   sometimes   gray,   1  to  4  cm.  long,  usually  stiff;  flowers  4  cm.  long, 
deep  orange;  petals  obtuse;   fruit  globular,  often  very  spiny;  seed  globular,  white,  4  mm.  in  diameter, 
surrounded  by  a  thin,  broad  band. 

Type  locality:   Near  Arequipa,  Peru. 
Distribution:    Central  Peru  to  central  Chile. 

The  three  illustrations  cited  below  were  made  from  the  same  cultivated  plant.    They 
look  very  much  like  a  poor  specimen  of  Opuntia  olomcrata,  and,  if  such  it  should  prove, 
the  name  O.  leonina  should  be  re- 
ferred   to    the    synonymy    of    that 
species. 

We  have  referred  Opuntia  di- 
morpha here  with  some  hesitancy. 

This  plant  often  passes  for 
Opuntia  ovata  and,  from  herbarium 
specimens  we  have  seen,  it  has  been 
so  identified  by  Rudolph  Philippi. 

This  species  is  very  common  in 
sandy  places  on  hills,  dry  flats,  and 
in  mountain  valleys,  often  covering 
the  ground  to  the  exclusion  of  all 
other  plants.  The  joints  readily  break 
loose  and,  falling  to  the  ground,  start 
new  colonies.  We  found  the  species 
very  common  both  above  and  below 
Arequipa,  Peru,  where  it  is  called 
corotilla;  in  central  Chile  it  grows  at 
lower  altitudes  but  in  similar  situa- 
tions. In  Chile  it  is  called  leon  or 
leoncito,  which  is  probably  the  origin  of  the  name  Opnutia  leonina. 

Opuntia  phyllacantha  Haage  and  Schmidt  (Regel  and  Schmidt,  Gartenflora  30:  4l4. 
1881),  if  it  actually  came  from  Chile,  as  stated,  may  belong  here.  The  joints  are  more  elon- 
gated, although  the  habit  is  somewhat  similar.  The  illustration  is  poor  and  has  doubtless  been 
made  from  a  greenhouse  specimen.  Tliis  name  was  given,  with  Salm-Dyck  as  authority,  by 
Forster  (Handb.  Cact.  508.  1846),  but  without  any  description. 

Illustrations:  Cact.  Journ.  1:  100;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  133;  Gartenflora  30: 
413;  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  7:  313,  all  as  Opuntia  leonina.  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  A6.  f.  8, 
as  O.  grata  leonina. 

Figure  113  is  from  a  photograph  of  joints  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  above  Are- 
quipa, Peru,  in  1914. 

71.    Opuntia  skottsbergii  sp.  nov. 

Roots  thick  and  fleshy,  sometimes  10  cm.  long,  the  plant  doubtless  more  or  less  cespitose;  joints, 
at  least  some  of  them,  globulat,  3  cm.  in  diameter,  almost  hidden  by  tiie  numerous  closely  set  spines; 
areoles  close  together,  small,  at  times  producing  long  tufts  of  white  wool;  spines  about  10,  black 
except  the  yellowish   tips,   1   to   2  cm.   long;  glochids  numerous,  elongated;  flowers,  including  the  very 


OPUNTIA. 


97 


spiny  ovary,  about  6  cm.  long ;  petals  about  3  cm.  long,  drying  reddish  or  reddish  green ;  areoles  of  the 
ovary  bearing  5  to  7  spines,  which  are  brown  or  blackish  below  and  with  more  or  less  yellowish  tips; 
fruit  not  known. 

Collected  near  Lake  Buenos  Aires,  Territory  of  Santa  Cruz,  Argentina,  December  12, 
1908,  by  Carl  Skottsberg  (No.  675);  and  again  on  the  Rio  Fenix,  north  of  the  locality 
above  given,  December  10,  1908  (No.  625,  type). 

This  species  belongs  to  the  subgenus  Tephrocactiis,  but  is  not  closely  related  to  any  of 
the  described  species.  The  flower  resembles  very  much  the  one  figured  by  Henslow  as  O.  dar- 
ivinii,  and  it  is  possible  that  he  may  have  had  some  of  this  species  in  his  0.  darwinii;  the  plant 
bodies,  however,  are  so  different  that  one  could  hardly  confuse  the  two. 

Figure  114  is  copied  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited. 

72.    Opuntia  nigrispina  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  695.    1898. 

Opiintia  purpurea  R.  E.  Fries,  Nov.  Act.  Soc.  Sci.  Upsal.  IV.    1^:   123.     1905. 
Described  as  a  shrub,  1  to  2  dm.  high  and  much  branched,  the  branches  upright;  joints  dull  green 
or  reddish  violet,  2  to  4  cm.  long,  1  to  2  cm.  in  diameter,  oblong-ellipsoid,  terete,  when  young  bearing 
decurrent,   spirally  arranged   tubercles;   areoles   2   to    3    mm.    in    diameter,   bearing  abundant   wool   and 


Fig.  114.— Op 


pentlandii 


glochids;  spines  3  to  5  from  upper  areoles,  2.5  to  3  cm.  long,  straight,  spreading,  subterete,  weak, 
purplish  black;  flowers  small,  purple,  2.2  to  2.5  cm.  long;  petals  spatulate,  1.5  cm.  long,  6  mm.  broad; 
stigma4obes  5 ;  ovary  1  cm.  long,  obovoid,  nearly  smooth, 

Type  locality.    On  the  puna  of  Humahuaca,  Bolivia. 

Dhty'ibntion:  Rare  in  stony  mountains,  altitude  3,500  meters,  Jujuy,  Argentina,  and  south- 
ern Bolivia. 

Figure  115  represents  a  fruiting  joint  collected  by  J.  A.  Shafer  at  La  Quiaca,  Argentina, 
February  2,  1917  (No.  79). 

73.     Opuntia  pentlandii  Salm-Dyck,  AUg.    Gartenz.    13:  387.     1845. 

Opuntia  boliviana  Salm-Dyck,  AUg.  Gartenz.    13:  388.     1845. 

Ciic/j/s  bolivianus  Lemaire,  Cactees  88.    1868. 

Opuiilia  pyrrhacantha  Schumann,  Gesamtb.    Kakteen  694.    1898. 

Opuntiadjctylifera  Ys^uptl  hoi.  ]3.h\:h.    Engler  Beibl.    111:29.     1913. 

Opuntia  ciicumijormh  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  524.  1916.  (From  the  description.) 
Plant  much  branched,  forming  low,  rounded,  compact  mounds  sometimes  a  meter  broad  with  hun- 
dreds of  short  stubby  branches;  joints  obovoid  to  oblong-cylindric,  plump,  2  to  10  cm.  long,  sometimes 
4  dm.  in  diameter,  more  or  less  pointed,  pale  green  or  sometimes  purplish,  tuberculate;  areoles  small, 
circular,  filled  with  short  wool  and  yellow  glochids,  the  upper  ones  sometimes  also  having  spines;  spines 
sometimes  wanting,  when  present  mostly  from  the  upper  areoles,  erect,  2  to  10,  usually  bright  yellow, 
sometimes  brownish  becoming  dull  brown,  the  longest  one  7  cm.  long;  flowers  very  variable  in  color 
and  size,  lemon-yellow  to  deep  red,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  sometimes  5  cm.  broad  when  fully  expanded; 
petals  obtuse;  filaments  short;  style  thick;  stigma-lobes  very  short;  ovary  short  with  few  areoles;  areoles 
on  ovary  subtended  by  minute  leaves,  filled  with  short  wool,  the  upper  ones  with  bristle-like  spines;  fruit 


98 


THE   CACTACEAE. 

m.  lont;.  Jry;  seeds  numerous,  4  to  5  mm.  ion^. 


globular  to  short-oblong,  2  to  3 

Type  locality:  In  Bolivia. 

Distribution:  Very  common  on  the  high  pampas  of  southeastern 
Peru  and  Bolivia,  and  adjacent  Argentina. 

Cactus  pentLindi!  Lemaire  (Gict.  88,  1868),  name  only,  is  sup- 
posed to  apply  to  this  species. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  plants  of  the  high  pampas 
of  the  Andean  region,  mostly  growing  at  elevations  of  12,000  feet  or 
higher,  forming  low,  broad,  compact  clumps,  sometimes  made  up  of 
a  hundred  plants  or  more. 

Illustrations:  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  ed.  .i.  106.  f.  54;  Deutsche 
Gart.  Zeit.  7:  312;  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  58.  f.  16;  .>Dict.  Gard. 
Nicholson  2:  f.  751;  PForster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  124;  ?W.  Wat- 
son, Cact.  Cult.  f.  77,  all  as  Opuntia  boliviana:  Monatsschr.  Kak- 
teenk. 24:  175,  as  Opuntia  dactyli\era:  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit. 
25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  14. 

Figure  116  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  in  1914 
by  Dr.  Rose  at  Comanche,  Bolivia;  figure  117  shows  a  flower- 
ing joint  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1914,  at  Juliaca,  Peru. 

74.     Opuntia  ignesccns  Vaupel,  Bot.  Jahrb.  Engler  Beibl.  Ill :  30. 

1913. 

Plants  forming  clumps  2  dm.  high  or  less,  with  hundreds  of 
erect  or  spreading  joints;  joints  bluish  green,  8  to  10  cm.  long,  very 
fleshy,  naked  below ;  upper  areoles  very  spiny ;  spines  6  to  1  5  from 
each  areole,  nearly  equal,  4  to  5  cm.  long,  erect,  acicular,  yellow; 
flowers  very  showy,  deep  red ;  ovary  oblong,  3  to  4  cm.  long,  naked 
below,  but  the  upper  areoles  producing  numerous  spines  4  to  7  cm. 
long;  fruit  red,  7  cm.  long,  spiny  and  tuberculate  above,  terete 
below,  with  a  deep  umbilicus;  seeds  nearly  globular,  about  3  mm. 
in  diameter. 

Type  locality:   Near  Sumbay,  southern  Peru. 
Distribution:    On   the  pampas  of  southern   Peru   and 
northern  Chile,  at  altitude  of  3,000  to  3,600  meters. 


-^'  \    / 


Fig.  117. — Opuntia  pent- 


-Opuntia  ij;nescens.    x  0.5. 


*.. 

^'^'-^^•'"^^SMH^SHi 

HPPWBI^^r'^  A' 

i 

Fig.   119. — Opuntia  ignesccns  forming 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


up  of  Opiinl'id  m'lqiieVti.  2.     Old  and  young  joints  of  Opi/iuia  i>n/cl.i. 

3.     Upper  part  of  joint  of  O piniti^  /t^iieu-ei/s.     (All  thrte-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  99 

Plate  XVI,  figure  3,  represents  old  and  young  joints  of  the  plant  collected  above  Ay- 
rampl,  Peru,  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1914.  Figure  118  shows  a  fruit  from  the  same  plant;  figure  119 
is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  H.  L.  Tucker  at  Coropuna,  Peru,  in  1911. 

75.     Opuntia  campestris  sp.  nov. 

Much  branched,  often  forming  low,  dense  masses,  3  to  6  dm.  in  diameter;  terminal  joints  readily 
breaking  off;  joints  globular  or  a  little  longer  than  thick,  3  to  5  cm.  long,  with  numerous  prominent 
areoles,  the  tubercles  conspicuous  when  young;  leaves  minute,  1  to  1.5  mm.  long,  caducous;  glochids 
conspicuous,  numerous,  yellow ;  spines  usually  wanting  at  the  lower  areoles,  present  above,  very  unequal, 
5  to  10,  acicular,  the  longest  ones  3.5  cm.  long;  flowers  rosy  white  to  light  yellow,  2  to  3  cm.  long; 
ovary  naked  or  spiny;  fruit  thicker  than  long,  2.5  cm.  long,  with  deep  umbilicus,  often  very  spiny. 

Common  just  below  railroad  station  at 
Pampa  de  Arrieros,  Peru,  where  it  was  collected 
by  Dr.  Rose,  August  23,  1914  (No.  18957). 

Figure  120  represents  joints  of  the  type 
specimen  above  cited. 


Fig.   120. — Opuntia  campestris.    xO.I 


-Opuntia  ignota     \0  8. 


76.    Opuntia  ignota  sp.  nov. 

Low,  much  branched,  spreading;  joints  small,  narrow,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  more  or  less  purplish;  leaves 
minute,  often  purplish;  spines  2  to  7  from  an  areole,  brownish,  acicular,  the  longest  ones  4  to  5  cm. 
long;  glochids,  when  present,  yellow;  areoles  large,  full  of  grayish  wool;  flowers  and  fruit  not  seen. 

Collected  by  Dr.  Rose  on  the  hills  below  the  railroad  station  at  Pampa  de  Arrieros,  Peru, 
August  23,  1914  (No.  18974). 

Plants  grown  in  greenhouses  are  dark  green  and  develop  few  spines  or  none. 
This  plant  grows  in  the  same  region  as  O.  caiiipestyis,  but  is  quite  different  from  it. 
Figure  121  shows  joints  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited. 

76a.  Opuntia  alexanderi  sp.  nov.    (Appendix  following  page  226). 
Subgenus  3.    PLATYOPUNTIA. 
Includes  all  the  species  with  flattened  joints;  a  few  species  have  nearly  terete  joints;  others 
have  some  of  the  joints  terete.  Twenty-eight  series  are  recognized.  The  species  are  most  abun- 
dant in  North  America,  but  several  series  are  found  only  in  South  America,  while  others  have 
representatives  in  both  Americas.    (See  Key  to  the  Series,  p.  45.) 


100 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


Series  1.  PUMILAE. 
Low,  spiny  species,  with  slightly  flattened,  narrowly  cylindric  or  linear-oblong,  readily  detached 
ultimate  joints,  the  main  stem  terete.  We  know  four  species,  the  typical  one  in  Mexico  and  Guate- 
mala, one  Venezuelan,  one  from  Oaxaca,  Mexico,  and  one  Peruvian.  In  the  structure  of  their  joints 
they  form  a  transitional  series  between  Cyliiidrop/iiiti.i  and  PLuyipitntia.  and  might  be  included  in 
either  of  these  subgenera  with  about  equal  reason. 


Key  to  Spi-cihs 

Young  areoles  with  only  1  to  3  spines ;  joints  2  to  3  cm.  thick. 

Plant  1   to  5  meters  high;  joints  tubercled;  spines  yellowish 77. 

Plants  about  2  dm.  high;  joints  not  tubercled;  spines  reddish  to  brown 77a 

Areoles  with  3  to  7  spines;  plants  1  to  -4  dm.  high. 

Joints   1    to   1.5  cm.  thick;  areoles  not  blotched;  spines  brownish 78. 

Joints   2   to   3  cm.  thick;  young  areoles  dnrk-blotched ;  spines  yellowish 79. 


O.  pumila 
O.  de  pail  pen, 


O.  puhescens 
O.  pascoensis 


11.     Opuntia  pumila  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  521.      1908. 

Stems  low,  very  much  branched,  the  joints  readily  falling  off  when  touched,  6  to  20  cm.  long 
velvety-pubescent,  terete  or  sometimes  slightly  flattened,  turgid,  bearing  more  or  less  prominent  tubercles ; 
areoles  small,  those  of  old  stems  bearing  several  slender  spines,  the  longer  ones  3  cm.  long;  areoles  of 
young  joints  usually  bearing  2  yellowish  spines;  ovary  pubescent,  with  few  spines  or  none;  petals  yel- 
low,  tinged  with   red,    15   mm.   long;   fruit  globular,  red,  15  mm.  long. 

Type  locality:   Near  Oaxaca  City,  Mexico,  on  the  road  to  Mitla. 
Distribution:    Central  and  southern  Mexico. 

When  this  species  was  described,  attention  was  called  to  various  forms  which  belonged 
here  or  to  one  or  more  related  species.   These  we  now  refer  to  O.  puhescens. 
Illustration:   Mollers  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  5. 
Figure  122  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type;  figure  123  represents  joints  of  the  same. 


OPIINTIA.  101 

77a.  Opuntia    depauperata    sp.  nov.   (See  Appendix,  p.  216.) 

78.  Opuntia  pubescens  WendLind*  in  Pfeiffer,  Rnum.    Cact.  149.    18.^7. 

Cactus  pubescent  Lemaire,  Cactees  87.    1868. 

Opuntia  leptarthra  Weber  in  Gosselin,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris   10:   593.      1901. 

Plants  small,  usually  low,  sometimes  4  dm.  high,  much  branched ;  joints  easily  becoming  detached, 
nearly  terete,  glabrous  or  pubescent,  3  to  7  cm.  long;  spines  numerous,  short,  brownish;  flowers  lemon- 
yellow  but  drying  red;  filaments  greenish;  style  white;  stigma-lobes  cream-colored;  fruit  small,  2  to  2.5 
cm.  long,  red,  a  little  spiny,  with  a  depressed  umbilicus;  seeds  small,  3  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:   In  Mexico. 

Distribution :     Northern    Mexico    to    Guate- 
mala. 

This    species    was    sent    to    the    Exposition 
Universelle    at    Paris    by    the    Mexican    Govern- 
ment   in    1889,    and    was    there    seen    and    de-         '" 
scribed  by  Dr.  Weber  as  O.  leptarthra.    A  part 
of    this    material    finally    went    to    the    Hanbury 
Garden    at    La    Mortola,    Italy,    whence    we    ob-        ^■^'' '   ^r~ 
tained    specimens    in    1913    which    prove    to    be       \D*   7^ 
identical  with  specimens  obtained  by  Dr.  Rose     V    ,i  '^ 
and  others  in  Mexico  and  Guatemala  in  1905  to  -^/^f  ^^"^ 
1909.  >ii4-\ 

This   is   an    insignificant    species   and    hence 

has  generally  been  overlooked  in  the  region  where 

so  many  more  striking  species  are  found.    It  is 

widely  distributed,   extending  from  the  State  of 

r^  ,.  •       n  J-      •  '/-^  1  1  Fig.  123. — Opuntia  pumila.    xO.4. 

Tamauhpas,  in  Mexico,  to  Guatemala,  a  much  Fig.  1 2 4.-Opuntia  pubescens.  xo,^^. 

greater    range    than    that    of    most    species.     Its 

wide  distribution  is  doubtless  due  to  the  fact  that  the  joints,  which  are  covered  with  barbed 
spines  and  are  easily  detached,  fasten  themselves  to  various  animals  and  are  scattered  like 
burs  over  the  country;  each  little  joint  thus  set  free  starts  a  new  center  of  distribution. 

This  is  a  difficult  plant  to  grow  in  greenhouses,  for  the  spreading  or  hanging  branches 
soon  become  entangled  with  other  plants  and  break  ofi^  in  attempts  to  free  or  move  them; 
partly  for  this  reason,  doubtless,  it  rarely  flowers  in  cultivation. 

Opuntia  angusta  Meinshausen  (Wochenschr.  Gartn.  Pflanz.  1:  30.  1858)  was  unknown 
to  Schumann.  It  was  originally  described  as  similar  to  the  South  American  species,  O.  auran- 
tiaca,  and,  if  so,  it  must  be  near  0.  pubescens.  if  not  identical  with  it,  being  a  native  of  Mexico, 
where  it  was  first  collected  by  Karwinsky. 

Figure  124  represents  joints  of  the  Guatemalan  plant,  cultivated  in  the  greenhouses  of 
the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  obtained  in  1907. 

79.  Opuntia  pascoensis  sp.  nov. 

Stems  erect  and  rigid,  up  to  3  dm.  high;  joints  easily  breaking  apart,  erect  or  ascending,  terete  or 
slightly  flattened,  3  to  12  cm.  long,  1.5  to  4  cm.  broad,  puberulent,  hardly  tuberculate  but  with  faint  up 
turned  lunate  depressions  between  the  dark-blotched  areoles;  leaves  minute;  areoles  somewhat  elevated 
filled  with  brown  wool  intermixed  with  longer  white  cobwebby  hairs;  spines  4  to  8  on  young  joints, 
more  on  older  joints,  acicular,  yellow,  2  cm.  long  or  less;  glochids  numerous,  short,  yellow,  tardily  de 
veloping;  fruit  globular,  1.5  cm.  in  diameter,  naked  below,  spiny  above.  Doubtless  of  wide  distribution, 
for  the  joints  are  easily  detached  and  are  distributed  like  burs,  but  so  far  only  two  collections  have  been 
reported. 

*Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  1837)  frequently  refers  several  of  Wendland's  species  to  Catal.  h.  Herrnh.  1835,  but  we 
can  find  no  references  to  Wendland  having  published  a  catalogue  of  the  Herrenhausen  Garden  either  in  1835  or  about 
that  time.  We  have  therefore  cited  all  of  Wendland's  species  so  referred  by  Pfeiffer  to  the  pages  given  in  his 
Enumatio. 


102 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


914,  first  from 


O.  drumm 
O.  inuyi 
O.  pKsilh, 
O.djnahi. 


Collected  by  Dr.  and  Mrs.  J.  N.  Rose  in  central  and  southern  Peru, 
just  below  Matucana  (No.  18653),  and  later  at  Pasco  (No.  18812,  type). 

Plate  XVII,  figure  1,  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited. 
Series  2.    CURASSAVICAE. 

This  series  is  composed  of  10,  or  perhaps  11,  species  of  low  plants,  characterized  by  their  fragile 
branches,  the  small  joints  separating  and  becoming  detached  very  readily,  more  or  less  flattened  or  sub- 
terete.  They  mostly  inhabit  the  southern  United  States  and  the  West  Indies;  one  is  known  from  Ecua- 
dor; the  original  home  of  one  of  the  species  recognized  is  unknown. 

Key  TO  Species 

Spines  acicular. 

Joints  oval,  mostly  not  more  than  twice  as  long  as  wide;  plants  prostrate,  little  branched 80.      O.  ci/nis>iiiica 

Joints  oblong  to  linear,  2  to  8  times  as  long  as  wide;  plants  ascending  or  erect,  much  branched. 

Joints  narrowly  linear,   1  to  2  cm.  wide 81.     O.taylori 

Joints  oblong  to  linear-oblong  or  obovate-oblong,  2  to  4  cm.  wide. 

Joints  oblong  to  hnear,  4  to  8  times  as  long  as  wide;  spines  1  to  3  cm.  long. 

Joints   not    tubercled 82.      O.  repens 

Joints  tubercled,  at  least  when  young 82a.  O.  pestijer 

Joints  oblong  to  obovate-oblong,  2  to  3  times  as  long  as  wide;  spines  3  to  5  cm.  long 83.     0.  borinquensh 

Spines  subulate. 
Spines  white. 

Roots  fibrous;  spines  at  most  of  the  areoles 84.     O.  miUtaris 

Roots  tuberous;  spines  only  at  the  upper  areoles 85.     O.nemoralis 

Spines  brown. 

Joints  oval  to  oblong. 

Joints  scarcely  repand;  plant  up  to  2  dm 86.      O.  lirummnnd'u 

Joints  strongly  repand;  plant  1   dm 87. 

Joints    linear-lanceolate 88. 

Affinity  uncertain 89. 

80.  Opuntia  curassavica  (Linnaeus)  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  7.  1768. 
Cactus  curassjvicui  Linneaus,  Sp.  PI.  469.  1753. 
Stems  low,  5-jointed,  light  green,  prostrate 
and  creeping  or  hanging  over  rocks;  joints  oval 
to  oblong,  decidedly  flattened  but  thick,  2  to  5  cm. ; 
long,  glabrous;  leaves  minute,  soon  withering; 
areoles  small,  bearing  short  wool  and  longer,  white 
cobwebby  hairs;  spines  4  to  many,  acicular,  2.^ 
cm.  long  or  less,  yellowish,  becoming  white  in 
age;  glochids  tardily  developing. 

Type  locality:  Curacao  Island. 
Distribution:    Curacao,  Bonaire,  and  Aruba. 
Haworth   (Syn.  PL  Succ.   196.   1812)   describes  three  varieties,  major,  media,  and  minor, 
and  later  (Rev.  Pi.  Succ.  71.  1821)  also  describes  the  variety  longa.   O.  curassavica  elongata 
Haworth   (Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.   184.   1834),  a  name  only,  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  as 
var.  lunga. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  species  of  Opuntia,  having  been  described  and  figured  as  early 
as  1696.  For  a  long  time  it  has  been  unknown,  the  name  having  been  transferred  to  a  sim- 
ilar species,  0.  repens.  In  19 13  Dr.  Britton  visited  Curacao,  its  native  home,  and  re-collected 
it.  Its  flowers  have  not  been  described,  and  several  residents  informed  him  that  they  had  never 
seen  it  in  flower;  Dr.  Britton  did  not  find  it  in  flower  on  Curacao,  nor  has  it  flowered  with 
us  in  cultivation;  Haworth,  who  wrote  about  it  in  1812,  speaks  of  its  being  a  shy  bloomer, 
saying  he  had  seen  it  in  flower  but  once.  In  early  English  books  it  is  called  pin  pillow,  because 
its  turgid  joints  suggest  pincushions  filled  with  pins. 

Illustrations:  Bradley,  Hist.  Succ.  PI.  ed.  2.  pi.  4,  as  Opuntia  minima  americana,  etc.; 
Commerson  Hort.  pi.  56,  as  Opuntia  curassavica  minima;  Plukenet,  Opera  Bot.  3:  pi.  281,  f. 
3,  as  Opuntia  minor  caulescens;  Dillenius,  Hort.  Elth.  2:  pi.  295,  as  tuna;  Loudon,  Encycl.  PI. 
413.  f.  6897,  as  Cactus  curassavicus;  Knorr,  Thesaurus  pi.  0.2. 

Figure  125  represents  the  plant  collected  on  Curacao  by  Dr.  N.  L.  Britton  and  Dr.  J.  A. 
Shafer  in  1913. 
80a.  Opuntia  adjecta  Small,  sp.  nov.  (Appendix  following  page  226). 


?5.~Op 


assavica.    xO.75. 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


1.  Joint  of  Opuntia  pascoensis.  3,  4.     Forms  of  Opuntia  re  pens.  5.     Flower  of  same. 

2.  Joints  of  Opuntia  taylori.  6.     Flowering  joint  of  Opiiiilia  drunniiondii. 

(All  three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  103 

81.  Opuntia  taylori  Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Mi.sc.  ('oil.  50:  "i^O.     1908. 

Opmilia  halloniana  Brittim  and  Rose  in  Johnston  and  Tryon,  Rep.  Prickly- Pear  Comm.  97.     191  i. 
Prostrate,  widely  branched;  joints  hnear  to  linear-oblong,    12  cm.   long  or  less,  bright  green,   1   to 

2  cm.  wide,   turgid,  glabrous  or  pubescent;   areoles    1    to    1.5   cm.   apart,   not  elevated;   spines  acicular, 

3  to  6  at  each  areole,  yellowish  brown,  becoming  white,  4  cm.  long  or  less;  glochids  yellowish  brown, 

3  mm.    long;   flowers  yellow,  small,   the  petals  about    1    cm.    long;    ovary   pyriform,    1    to    1.5   cm.    long, 
its  areoles  with  few  bristles  and  spineless. 

Type  locality:  Between  Gonaives  and  La  Hutte  Rochce,  on  road  to  Terre  Neuve,  Haiti. 

Distribution:  Deserts  of  Haiti  and  of  Azua,  Santo  Domingo. 

This  species,  while  similar  to  O.  repens.  has  more  terete  joints. 

It  was  first  collected  in  1905  in  Haiti  by  Nash  and  Taylor,  and  upon  this  collection 
the  species  was  based.  In  191.5  Rose,  Fitch,  and  Russell  collected  it  in  the  Azua  desert  of 
Santo  Domingo.  In  this  last  collection  the  joints  are  pubescent,  but  otherwise  the  plants 
seem  to  be  the  same,  although  we  at  one  time  thought  they  might  be  distinct;  in  fact,  in 
their  report  on  the  opuntias,  Johnston  and  Tryon  published  the  Santo  Domingo  plant  as 
new,  from  notes  given  to  them. 

Plate  XVII,  figure  2,  represents  joints  of  the  plant  collected  by  Rose,  Fitch,  and  Russell 
at  Azua,  Santo  Domingo,  in  1913. 

82.  Opuntia  repens  Bello,  Anal.  Soc.  Esp  .Hist.  Nat.  10:  277.     1881. 

Stems  erect  or  ascending,  5  dm.  high  or  less,  commonly  much  branched,  often  forming  dense, 
flat  masses  4  meters  in  diameter,  glabrous  or  pubescent,  green  or  olive-green;  joints  oblong  to  linear 
5  to  16  cm.  long,  3.5  cm.  broad  or  less,  usually  strongly  flattened;  areoles  small,  bearing  brown  wool 
and  a  few  cobwebby  white  hairs;  spines  when  very  young  pinkish,  becoming  brown,  afterwards  fading 
out,  acicular,   numerous,   3.5  cm.   long,  or  less;  glochids  numerous,  yellow,  tardily  developing;  flowers 

4  cm.  broad,  bright  yellow,  fading  to  salmon-colored;  ovary  and  fruit  with  or  without  spines;  fruit  red, 
2  to  3  cm.  long,  1  to  few-seeded. 

Type  locality:  Near  Guanica,  Porto  Rico. 

Distribution:  Porto  Rico  and  its  islands,  Mona,  Muertos,  Vieques,  and  Culebra,  to 
Virgin  Gorda  and  St.  Croix. 

Opuntia  repens  has  long  been  confused  with  O.  curassavica.  It  was  first  collected  on 
St.  Thomas,  where  it  is  abundant  and  a  troublesome  weed,  and  was  illustrated  by  Pfeiffer 
and  Otto  in  the  year  1843.  It  was  described  by  Bello  in  1881,  who  thought  it  might  be 
a  variety  of  O.  spinosissima.  According  to  Bello,  it  is  called  olaga  in  Porto  Rico,  which  is 
a  corruption  of  ohulaga;  the  name  suckers  is  used  for  it  in  the  Virgin  Islands.  The  plant  is 
freely  distributed  by  its  fragile,  clinging  joints.  Unlike  its  relative,  O.  curassavica,  this  plant 
flowers  freely,  blooming  in  late  spring  and  summer. 

Opuntia  repens  Karwinsky  in  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  361.  1834)  has  been  published 
only  as  a  synonym,  and  therefore  does  not  invalidate  the  use  of  Bello's  name. 

The  plant  is  recorded  by  Johnston  and  Tryon  (Rep.  Prickly-Pear  Comm.  95.  1914)  as 
O.  curassavica  taylori. 

Illustration:  Pfeiffer  and  Otto,  Abbild.  Beschr.  Cact.  1:  pi.  6,  f.  2,  as  Opuntia  curas- 
savica. 

Plate  XVII,  figure  3,  represents  joints  of  the  plant  collected  near  Guanica,  Porto  Rico, 
by  Dr.  Britton  in  1913;  figure  4  is  from  a  plant  obtained  by  the  same  coUeaor  the  same  year 
on  Virgin  Gorda;  figure  5  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

82a.  Opuntia  pestifer  sp.  nov.    (See  Appendix  p.  217.) 

83.  Opuntia  borinquensis  sp.  nov. 

Plants  few-branched,  forming  colonies  often  2  meters  across,  5  dm.  high  or  less;  joints  readily 
detached,  oblong  to  obovate-oblong,  dull  green,  glabrous,  compressed  but  turgid,  5  to  8  cm.  long. 
4  cm.  wide  or  less,  about  1.5  cm.  thick;  areoles  small,  1   to  2  cm.  apart,  bearing  2  or  3  acicular  spines, 


104 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


the  larger  up  to  6  cm.  long,  brown  when  young,  fading  white;  leaves  subulate,  acuminate,  1  to  2  mm. 
long;  fruit  obovoid,  subtruncate,  1.5  cm.  long. 

Limestone  swale,  Morillos  de  Cabo  Rojo,  Porto  Rico  (Britton,  Coweil,  and  Brown, 
No.  4741),  growing  with  O.  repens  Bello,  from  which  it  dififers  by  its  larger,  broader,  and 
flatter  joints  and  much  longer  spines. 

The  only  locahty  known  for  this  plant  is  at  the  extreme  southwestern  corner  of  Porto 
Rico,  where  numerous  colonies  of  it  were  observed.  The  region  is  a  very  dry  one,  rain  fall- 
ing there  only  at  long  intervals;  the  associated  vegetation  is  of  a  highly  xerophytic  character. 

Figure  126  represents  joints  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited. 

84.     Opuntia  militaris  sp.  nov. 

Stems  3  dm.  tall,  the  branches  weak  and  more  or  less  spreading;  joints  thick,  narrowly  oblong 
to  obovate,  5  to  8  cm.  long,  somewhat  shiny  when  young,  easily  breaking  apart;  spines  1  or  2  from  an 
areole,  occasionally  more,  acicular,  white,  1  to  2  cm.  long;  flower-buds  pointed;  flowers  small,  3  cm. 
long;   petals   greenish   to  cream-colored,   tinged   with  pink;  ovary  small,  its  small  areoles  without  spines. 

Collected  by  Dr.  N.  L.  Britton,  March  17  to  30,  1909,  at  the  U.  S.  Naval  Station, 
Guantanamo  Bay,  Oriente,  Cuba  (No.  1957). 

Figure  127  represents  joints  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited. 


Fig.    126. — Opuntia   borinquensis.      xO.5 


Fig.  127.— Opu 


85.  Opuntia    nemoralis   Griffiths,  Monatsschr.   Kakteenk.  23:  133.    1913. 

Plants  low,  usually  prostrate,  forming  clumps  1  meter  in  diameter,  sometimes  3  dm.  high;  joints 
ovate  to  obovate,  thick,  7  to  9  cm.  long,  green,  but  often  with  purple  blotches  about  the  areoles ; 
spines  1  or  2,  only  from  the  upper  areoles,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long,  mostly  erect;  glochids  yellow;  flowers 
yellow;  fruit  obovoid  to  pyriform,  small,   3  cm.   long,  light  red,  truncate. 

Type  locality:  Longview,  Texas. 

Distribution:  Pine  woods  and  fields  about  Longview,  Texas. 

This  species  in  habit,  joints,  and  spines  suggests  the  Tortispinae;  but  on  account  of 
having  easily  detached  joints  we  have  referred  it  to  the  Curassavicae,  as  indicated  in  the  origi- 
nal description,  placing  it  between  the  Cuban  species  O.  militaris  and  the  United  States 
species  O.  drummondii.    It  is  known  only  from  the  type  specimens. 

86.  Opuntia  drummondii  Graham  in  Maund,  Botanist  5:  pi.  246.     1846. 

Opuntia  pei-corvi  Le  Conte  in  Engelman,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  346.    1856. 

Opunlidfruuidenla  Gibbes,  Proc.  Elliott  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  1:  273.    1859. 
Plant  prostrate  or  spreading,   2   dm.   or  less  high,  from  thickened  single  or  sometimes  moniiiform 
roots;   joints   rather  variable,   narrowly   linear  to  broadly    oblong,    with    entire    margins,    sometimes    12 
cm.   long  and   5  to  6  cm.  broad,  usually  light  green,  sometimes  darker  about  the  areoles;   leaves  2   to 


BRITTON   AND   ROSE 


1.  Two  plants  of  Opuntia  drtiminondii.  3.    Joints  of  Opiint'ia  tr'hKcmtb.i. 

2.  Joints  of  Opuiilia  retrorsa  with  flower.  4,  5.    Joint  and  section  of  fruit  of 

Opuntia  jamaicensis. 
(All  three  fourths  size) 


OPUNTIA. 


105 


6  mm.  long;  spines  (if  present)  solitary  or  2  to  4,  brownish  red  or  gray,  2  to  4  cm.  long;  flowers  yellow, 
6  cm.  broad;  petals  obovate;  fruit  red,  juicy  but  insipid,  obovoid  to  clavate,  22  to  35  mm.  long,  15  mm. 
in  diameter  at  thickest  part,  bearing  few  areoles  and  no  spines;  umbilicus  slightly  depressed  in  the 
center;  seeds  1  to  8,  about  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Apalachicola,  Florida. 

Distribution:  Sandy  soil  from  northern  Florida  to  Pamlico  Sound,  North  Carolina. 

In  February  1916,  Dr.  J.  K.  Small  visited  the  coastal  islands  near  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  Gibbes's  Opuntia  jvustulenta.  He  found  this  species 
very  common  on  Folly  Island  and  in  the  Isle  of  Palms,  where  it  grows  abundantly  in  the 
sand,  and  also  very  variable  as  to  shape  and  size  of  joints.  He  says  the  joints  break  ofif 
easily  and  attach  themselves  to  one's  clothing  like  the  sand  spur,  making  progress  over  these 
islands  difficult  and  painful.  It  is  the  common  belief  that  this  species  rarely  flowers.  It 
usually  flowers  when  first  brought  into 
cultivation,  but  rarely  afterward,  this 
doubtless  being  due  to  unsuitable  green 
house  conditions. 

The  fruit  described  was  collected  by 
Dr.  J.  K.  Small,  December  10,  1917,  at 
Apalachicola,    Florida,    the   type    locality. 

According  to  Professor  L.  R.  Gibbes, 
it  is  known  as  dildoes  about  Charleston. 

Illustrations:  Maund,  Botanist  5:  pi. 
246;  Journ.  Elisha  Mitchell,  Sci.  Soc.  34: 
pi.  13,  14. 

Plate  XVII,  figure  6,  represents  flow- 
ering joints  of  a  plant  sent  from  La  Mor- 
tola,  Italy,  to  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden  in  1912;  plate  XVIII,  figure  1, 
shows  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Small 
on  the  Isle  of  Palms,  South  Carolina,  in 
1916. 

Herbarium  specimens  apparently  rep- 
resentmg  a  related  species,  were  collected 
by  W.  L.  McAtee  at  Cameron,  Louisiana, 

in  1910  (No.  1955).  F,„.  ,,«._Orum,..  u.uy,. 

86a.  Opuntia  impedata  Small,  sp.  nov.    (Appendix  following  page  226). 

87.  Opuntia  tracyi  Britton,  Torreya  11:  \^2.    1911. 

Low,  diffusely  much  branched,  pale  green,  about  2  dm.  high  or  less;  older  joints  oblong 
to  linear-oblong,  flat,  6  to  8  cm.  long,  1.5  to  2.5  cm.  wide,  about  1  cm.  thick;  young  joints  scarcely 
flattened  or  terete,  1  cm.  thick;  areoles  elevated,  5  to  10  mm.  apart;  spines  1  to  4,  acicular,  light  gray  with 
darker  tips,  3.5  cm.  long  or  less;  glochids  numerous,  brownish;  corolla  pure  yellow,  4  cm.  broad; 
ovary  1.5  cm.  long,  bearing  a  few  triangular  acute  scales  similar  to  the  outermost  sepals,  which  are  2 
mm.  long;  sepals  triangular-ovate,  5  to  1  5  mm.  long,  the  outer  green,  the  inner  yellowish  with  a  green 
blotch;  petals  obovate,  apiculate,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long;  fihiments  yellow,  I  cm.  long;  anthers  white. 

Type  locality:  Biloxi,  Mississippi. 

Distribution:  Southern  Mississippi,   southeastern  Georgia  to  northern  Florida. 

Figure  128  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  collected  by  S.  M.  Tracy  at  Biloxi. 
Mississippi,  in  1911. 

88.  Opuntia  pusilla  Haworth,  Syn.  PI.  Succ.  195.     1812. 

Cacliu  pusilliii  Hawcirth.  Mi.sc.  iWit.  1»,S.     isui 
Cactui  joliosus   Willdenow.   Enum.    PI.   Suppl.    35.     1813. 
opuntia  foliou,  S,ilm-Dyck  in  De  CanJolle,  Prodr.  3:  471.      182s. 
Low,   usually  prostrate;   joints  narrow,   more  or  less  flattened,  somctunes  nearly  terete,  hardly  tuber- 
culate,  light  green  in  color;  leaves  6  mm.  long,  linear,   early  deciduous;   areoles   remote;   spines    i    or   2, 


106 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


flowers    pale   yellow,    rather   large    for   the 


subulate,  usually  brownish  when  young,  in  age  straw-colored; 
plant;  petals  few,  about  8,  spreading,  acute. 

Type  locality:  Not  cited. 

Distribution:  Usually  assigned  to  South  America,  but  not  known  from  any  definite  lo- 
cality; Schumann,  in  his  Keys,  however,  says  West  Indies. 

This  species  has  usually  passed  under  the  name  of  0.  folios,!,  although  all  writers  seem 
to  agree  that  the  older  name,  O.  pusilla,  was  given  to  the  same  species.  It  may  belong  in 
the  series  Aurantiacae  rather  than  in  the  Cmassaviccie. 

Specimens  distributed  from  European  gardens  as  O.  ^oliosd  in  recent  years  are  not  typi- 
cal, and  are  probably  referable  to  O.  dritniniondii. 

Tcphrocactiis  pusillus  Lemaire  Cact.  88.  1868),  an  unpublished  name,  referred  by  Le- 
maire  to  his  third  section  of  Tephvocactus,  may  belong  here.  The  Index  Kewensis  refers  it 
to  Opiintia  pusilla. 

Illustration:  Pfeiffer  and  Otto,  Ab- 
bild.  Beschr.  Cact.  1:  pi.  18,  as  Opuntia 
foliosa. 

Figure  129  is  copied  from  the  illus- 
tration above  cited. 


Opuntia  darrahiana  Weber 
Bull.    Mus.    Hist.    Nat.    Par 


in  Gosselin, 
s    10:    388. 

1904. 

Growing  in  masses,  2  to  2.5  dm.  high, 
3.5  to  4  dm.  broad,  very  much  branched,  joints 
7  to  8  cm.  long  by  4  to  5  cm.  broad,  bright  green  to  sea- 
green  ;  areoles  somewhat  elevated,  especially  when  young, 
1  cm.  apart;  spines  6,  the  two  uppermost  the  longest, 
these  4  to  4.5  cm.  long,  all  suberect,  white  or  grayish  white, 
more  or  less  brownish  at  tip ;  glochids  said  to  be  wanting ; 
flowers  and  fruit  not  known. 

Type  locality:  Turks  Islands. 

Distribution:  Known  only  from  the  type  lo- 
cality. 

Tliis  species  is  known  only  from  the  Turks 
Islands,  a  small  group  at  the  southeastern  end  of 
the  Bahaman  Archipelago.  It  was  introduced  into 
Europe  by  the  late  Charles  Darrah. 

We  know  the  plant  only  from  the  above-cited  description,  and,  so  far  as  we  have  been 
able  to  learn,  it  is  not  now  in  cultivation,  nor  have  we  been  able  to  find  any  herbarium 
specimens  preserved.  The  opuntias  known  to  us  to  inhabit  Turks  Islands  are  O.  dilletiii, 
0.  nashii.  and  O.  hicayana.  The  description  of  O.  darrahiana  does  not  agree  with  any  of 
these.  The  species  is  referred  to  the  series  Curassavicae  with  doubt,  but  as  this  series  has 
representatives  in  Florida,  Cuba,  and  Hispaniola,  the  existence  of  one  in  the  Bahamas  is 
not  improbable. 

Series  3.  AURANTIACAE 

The  species  of  this  series  are  low  plants,  mostly  with  readily  detached  joints;  the  main  stems  are 
often  terete  or  turgid,  the  ultimate  joints  narrow  and  flat.  They  inhabit  southeastern  South  America.  Dur- 
ing the  expedition  to  Brazil  and  Argentina  conducted  by  Dr.  Rose  in  the  summer  of  1915,  only  a  few  of 
the  species  here  grouped  were  found;  Dr.  Shafer  collected  several  of  them  in  the  winter  of  1916-17.  Dr. 
Spegazzini  has  given  us  photographs  of  several. 

We  recognize  8  species,  and  have  appended  anotiicr,  wiiich  may  belong  here. 


Opuntia  pusilla. 


Opuntia. 


107 


Key  to  Species 


nts  not  conspicuously  purple 

Joints  linear,  elongated. 

Stem  terete  or  suhtercte; 

Joints  dark  green,  ni 

"joints  tuhercled.  hlui 

All'tlie  loinis  Hat. 

joints   elongated,   lini 
|(•lnt^    Inuar-oblong.. 


branches  mostly  flat. 

t  tuhercled 

At  green  when  young.. 


Joint: 


long  purplish  blotch  under  each  areole. 

e  or  less  spiny. 

flattened. 

nts  2  to  .1.5  cm.  wide 

Its  .1.5  to  6  cm.  wide 

subterete,   turgid 


.91.  O.  schickendanlzii 

-92.  O.  kiska-loro 

.93.  O.  canina 

.94.  O.  montefidensis 


95.  0.  relrors,j 

96.  O.  utkilio 
<)6a.  0.  discolor 

97.  O.  anacanllm 
O.  .vo^^eiMK 


Perhaps  of  this  series 

90.  Opuntia  aurantiaca  Lindley,  Edwards 
pi.  1606.    18.13. 

Opnnti.i  .iiitjiiliji.i  I'.Mciis.i  Salm-Dyck 
Cact.  1-6,  l.Sih. 
Low,  much  branched,  and  spread- 
ing; stem  terete  or  subterete,  1  to  2  cm. 
:hick;  joints  very  fragile,  linear,  6  to  8 
cm.  long,  1.5  to  2.5  cm.  broad,  almost 
terete  at  base,  dark  green,  shining;  are- 
oles  somewhat  elevated,  filled  with  white 
wool ;  spines  2  or  3,  brownish,  1  to  3  cm. 
long;  flowers  yellow,  2.5  cm.  broad;  fruit 
2  to  2.5  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Chile  (in  error.) 

Distribntio)!:  Argentina  and 
Uruguay. 

Cactus  aurantiacus  Lemaire 
(Cact.  87.  1868)  is  usually  cited  in 
synonymy,  but  Lemaire  only  men- 
tions the  name  as  a  species  of  Cactus. 
It  is  in  fact  Giilies's  manuscript 
name,  first  published  in  the  Botanical 
Register  in  1833  as  a  synonym  of 
O.  aurantiaca. 

O.  extensa  Salm-Dyck  (Pfeif- 
fer,  Enum.  Cact.  147.  1837)  is  also 
given  as  a  synonym. 

Remy  states  (Gay,  Fl.  Chilena  3: 
25.    1847)  that  it  grows  in  the  cen-      fig.  i.io.— o. 

tral  provinces  of  Chile,  but  he  prob-  aurantiaca.  Fig.   131.— O.  schickendantzii. 

ably  had  in  mind  some  other  plant,  as  O.  aurantiaca  is  not  knou'n  to  be  native  of  Chile  by 
resident  botanists. 

Illustrations:   Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Montevideo  5:  pi.  34;  Edwards's  Bot.  Reg.  19:  pi.  I6O6. 

Figure  130  represents  a  joint  from  a  plant  found  by  Dr.  Rose,  in  Argentina,  in  1915. 

91.  Opuntia  schickendantzii  Weber  in  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  688.     1898. 

Shrub-like,  1  to  2  meters  high,  much  branched,  grayish  green ;  branches  q'lindric  or  flattened,  some- 
what tuberculate;  leaves  minute,  2  mm.  long,  reddish;  spines  1  or  2,  subulate,  1  to  2  cm.  long;  flowers 
4  cm.  in  diameter,  yellow;  fruit  green,  sterile. 

Type  locality:   In  Tucuman,  Argentina. 

Distribution:   Northern  Argentina. 

Figure  131  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  in  Argentina  contributed  by  Dr.  Spegazzini. 


108 


The  Cactaceae. 


Opuntia  kisk.1 


92.  Opuntia  kiska-loro   Spegazzini,   Anal.   Mus. 
Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.    4:  516.     1905. 

Prostrate,  rooting,  forming  spreading  clumps 
3  to  6  dm.  high;  joints  flat,  at  first  very  nar- 
row, becoming  lanceolate,  20  cm.  long,  4  cm. 
broad,  shining  green;  spines  2  to  4,  unequal, 
whitish,  4  to  6  cm.  long;  flowers  orange,  rather 
large,  3  to  6  cm.  broad;  filaments  pale  orange; 
stigma-lobes  6,  flesh-colored;  fruit  5  cm.  long, 
deep  violet-purple  without,  white  within;  seeds  5 
mm.  broad,  pubescent. 

Type    locality:     Deserts    of    La    Rioja, 
Catamarca,  Argentina. 

Distribution:   Northwest  Argentina. 
Figure  132  is  from  a  photograph  of  the 
type  plant  sent  by  Dr.  Spegazzini. 

93.  Opuntia  canina  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac. 
Buenos  Aires  III.    4:  518.     1905. 

At  first  erect,  then  decumbent,  1  to  3  meters 
broad ;  joints  flat,  very  narrow,  attenuate  at 
both  ends,  2.5  to  3.5  dm.  long,  4.5  cm.  broad, 
shining  green ;  areoles  on  young  joints  unarmed ; 
spines  of  areoles  of  older  joints  1  or  2,  some- 
times 3,  1.5  to  3.5  cm.  long,  reflexed,  subterete, 
grayish  white  with  yellowish  tips;  flowers  nu- 
merous, medium  sized;  ovary  obovoid;  corolla 
rotate,  yellowish  orange,  4  to  5  cm.  broad; 
petals  obovate,  filaments  yellow;  stigma  lobes  5; 
fruit  obovoid,  2.6  to  2.8  cm.  long,  red  with- 
out, white  within;  seeds  i  mm.  broad,  white, 
lanate. 

Type  locality:    Near  Pampablanca,  Ju- 

juy,  Argentina.  '^"' 

Distribj/tiof/:    Provinces  of  Jujuy  and  Tucurnan,  Argentina 

Figure  133  is  from  a  photograph  sent  by  Dr.  Spegazzini. 


Opuntia. 


109 


94.  Opuntia  montevidensis  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:  515.     1905. 
Cespitose,  the  branches  3  to  5  dm.  high;  joints  5  to  10  cm.  long,  obovate  to  elliptic;  areoles  not 

very  prominent;  spines  usually  5,  3  longer  and  stouter,  2  very  small,  reflexed,  and  setiform,  the  2  or 
3  longer  ones  erect  or  spreading,  2  to  3  cm.  long;  flowers  4  to  5  cm.  broad,  orange-colored;  fruit  dark 
purple,  clavate,  3.5  to  4  cm.  long;  seeds  lanate. 

Type  locality:   Cerro  de  Montevideo,  Uruguay. 

Distribution:    Cerro  de  Montevideo,  and  near  La  Colonia,  Uruguay. 

95.  Opuntia  retrorsa  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.    4:  517.     1905. 

if)  Opuntia  pUtynoda  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  526.  1916. 
Stems  prostrate,  intricately  branched,  creeping,  rooting  at  the  nodes;  joints  linear-lanceolate,  more 
or  less  attenuate  at  each  end,  flattened;  areoles  somewhat  prominent,  each  subtended  by  a  long,  dull 
purplish  blotch;  spines  1  to  3,  reflexed,  white  below,  with  pinkish  tips;  flowers  yellowish,  4  to  5  cm. 
broad;  fruit  about  2  cm.  long,  violet-purple  on  the  outside,  light  ro.se  on  the  inside;  seeds  2  to  2.5  mm. 
broad,  somewhat  villous. 


wr-' 

ip^ 

EflF'^TfVf^pX     ^ 

wm 

aM 

.^ 

L/^,^saM 

i«HC^^ 

^Tj^ 

S 

M 

^^^^ 

1^^^^^ 

^ 

^y 

^^'"^'iM'iij^s  1^^"""^  J 

v*^B 

Fig.   n-l. — Opunti.i  retrorsa. 

Type  locality:    In  the  Territory  of  the  Chaco,  Argentina. 
Distribution:    Northern  Argeniina. 

Plate  XVIII,  figure  2,  represents  a  plant  from  Argentina  which  flowered  at  the  New  York- 
Botanical  Garden  in  1911.   Figure  13  4  is  from  a  photograph  sent  by  Dr.  Spegazzini. 

96.  Opuntia  utkilio  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.    4:  516.     1905. 

Low,  creeping  plant,  rooting  at  the  joints,  with  elongated  branches  5  to  15  dm.  long;  joints  flat, 
elliptic-linear,  15  to  30  cm.  long,  5  to  6  cm.  broad;  spines  at  first  2  or  3,  the  upper  one  longer,  later 
more  numerous,  reflexed;  flowers  small,  35  to  4  cm.  broad,  yellowish;  ovary  obovoid,  somewhat  spiny; 
fruit  small,  3  cm.  long,  fleshy,  insipid,  reddish  violet  both  within  and  without;  seeds  suborbicular,  4 
mm.  broad,  lanate. 

Type  locality:    Province  of  Tucuman,  Argentina. 

Distribution:    Northern  Argentina. 

Figure  135  is  from  a  photograph  sent  by  Dr.  Spegazzini. 

96j.  Opuntia  discolor  sp.  nov.     (See  Appendix,  p    2 IS.) 

97.  Opuntia  anacantha  Spegazzini  in  Gosselin,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat,  Paris  10:  391,     1904. 

Usually  decumbent  and  rooting  along  the  under  surface,  sometimes  ascending  and  clambering,  1 
to  2.5  meters  long;  joints  unarmed,  dark  green  except  for  purple  spots  under  the  areoles.  elliptic  to 
lanceolate,  narrowed  toward  each  end,  1.5  to  4  dm.  long,  3.5  to  7  cm.  broad;  areoles  small;  flowers 
large,  numerous,  yellowish  orange,  4  cm.  long,  5  to  6  cm.  in  diameter;  sepals  large,  reddish,  obtuse, 
emarginate  or  even  2-lobed;  petals  12,  style  white;  stigma-lobes  white  or  rose-colored;  fruit  3  cm.  long, 
red,  the  pulp  yellowish  or  white. 

Type  locality:    In  the  southern  Chaco,  Argentina. 

Distribution:    Northeastern  Argentina. 


no  The  Cactaceae. 

Figure  136  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  part  of  the  type  plant,  received  from  Dr.  Spegazzini. 
98.    Opuntia  grosseiana  Weber  in  Gosselin,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  10:  391.     1904. 

Described  as  having  joints  intermediate  between  those  of  Opiintui  elala  and  O.  aiuicantha.  and  re- 
sembling these  species. 

Type  locdlity:  In  Paraguay. 

Distiibutio)!:    Paraguay. 

Introduced  from  Paraguay  by  Hermann  Grosse;  known  to  us  only  from  the  description. 

Series  3a.    PISCIFORMES.  (Appendix  following  page  21h). 

Series  4.     TUNAE. 
Bushy,  ascending,  depressed,  or  erect  plants,  with  rather  large  and  more  or  less  readily  detached  |oints, 
bearing  acicular  or  subulate,  often  numerous,  yellow  or  white  spines.   The  species  inhabit  the  West  Indies. 
Mexico,  Guatemala,  and  northern  South  America. 


5.— Oruniia  iitkil 


Key  to  Species 

Juints  glabrous. 

Spines  slender,  acicular. 
Spines  white. 

Joints  dull.  , 

Joints  dark  green,  repand;  areoles  somewhat  elevated 99.    O.  helLi 

Joints  light  green,  not  repand ;  areoles  not  elevated. 

Spines  several  at  the  areoles;  plant  ascending lUO.    O.  Iriacaniha 

Spines  1  to  few  at  the  areoles  or  often  wanting;  plant  erect 101.    O.  jamaicensis 

Joints  shining lOld.  O.  gttatemalensis 

Spines  yellow,  at  least  when  young;  plant  bushy  branched 102.    O.  tutut 

Spines  stout,  subulate. 

Spines  white;  joints  relatively  thick,  turgid 102./.  O.  peiiitellii 

Spines  yellow,  at  least  when  young;  joints  relatively  thin. 
Plants  low,  spreading,  2  dm.  high  or  less. 

Joints  repand;  spines  bright  yellow 103.    O.  antilhvia 


Opuntia.  1  ]  1 

J^)l^t^  nut  icpand;  spiiics  pale  yellow 103^.  O.  caracasana 

PLiniS    [.ill,     :     [(.    J    IIKKIS    liiuli. 

Joniis  oh.u.itc  ni  hh.jJK   elliptic 104.    O.  wentiana 

jointi  lUiiiuwl)    ubliing   ui   oblong-obovate 104a.  O.  aetjuatorialis 

Joints  pubescent. 

Areoles  surrounded  by  purplish  spots 105.    O.  decutnhens 

Areoles  not  surrounded  by  purplish  spots 106.    O.  depressa 

99-    Opuntia  bella  sp.  nov. 

Stems  low,  10  to  12  dm.  hi^h,  forming  thickets;  joints  oblong,  repand,  10  to  16  cm.  long,  dull 
dark  green;  areoles  1  to  2  cm.  apart,  somewhat  elevated,  small,  filled  with  short  brown  wool  and  glo- 
chids;  leaves  minute,  1.5  to  2.5  mm.  long;  spines  white,  2  to  6,  unequal,  acicular,  the  longer  ones  about 
2  cm.  long;  flowers  5  cm.  long,  "sulphur-yellow  turning  to  orange-red;"  petals  20  to  22  mm.  long;  ovary 
deeply  umbilicate;  "fruit  small,  greenish  yellow." 


L 


3    ^      v'h«. 


t«,iirt 


Type  locality:   Venticas  del  Dagua,  Dagua  Valley,  western  cordillera  ot  Colombia. 

Distribution:  Western  Colombia. 

The  type  is  based  upon  plants  collected  by  Mr.  Henry  Pittier  in  the  State  of  Cauca,  Colom- 
bia, in  1906,  and  grown  ever  since  in  Washington  and  New  York.  The  species  is  very  com- 
mon in  Cauca,  forming  with  other  cacti  impenetrable  thickets. 

Figure  137  is  from  a  photograph  by  Mr.  Pittier  of  the  type  plant,  taken  near  Cauca,  Co- 
lombia, in  1906;  figure  138  is  from  a  photograph  by  the  same  collector,  showing  flowering  and 


112 


The  Cactaceae. 


fruiting  joints;  figure  139  represents  a  single  joint. 

100.    Opuntia  triacantha    (Willdenow)    Sweet,   Hort.  Brit.   172.     1826. 
Gicliis  liiacMithus  WilKlenDw,  Enum.    Pi.  Suppl.  34.    181  n. 

Stems  fialf  procumbent  or  clambering  over  rocks,  sometimes  even  erect  but  always  low;  joints 
turgid,  oblong,  4  to  8  cm.  long,  the  terminal  and  often  the  second  and  third  ones  breaking  off  easily; 
spines  usually  3,  white  but  often  drying  yellowish,  4  cm.  long  or  less;  flowers,  including  the  ovaries,  5 
cm.  long,  brownish  yellow  to  cream-colored,  tinged  with  pink;  petals  obtuse;  filaments  and  style  pale 
green;  fruit  2.5  cm.  long,  red,  spineless. 

Type  locality:   Not  cited;  cultivated  in  the  Berlin  Garden. 

Distrihiitioii:   Desecheo  Island,  Porto  Rico;  Lesser  Antilles,  St.  Thomas  to  Guadeloupe. 


Fig.   H8.— Opumi.1  bclU.     xO.-'5.  Fig.   139.— Opuntia  bella.     xO.66. 

When  published,  the  origin  of  these  species  was  uncertain.  It  has  been  referred  to  the 
South  American  flora,  but  if  our  interpretation  is  correct  it  is  a  West  Indian  plant.  It  was 
introduced  into  cultivation  in  1796. 

This  species  is  very  common  on  flats  or  low  hills  and,  so  far  as  our  observation  goes,  is 
never  found  very  far  inland  in  the  Lesser  Antilles. 

Professor  Schumann's  description  includes  two  species,  one  of  which  belongs  here  and 
one  in  the  Streptacanthae,  perhaps  as  Mr.  Berger  thinks  to  O.  atnyclaea — and  a  tall  plant, 
3.5  meters  high,  is  now  grown  in  Italy  under  that  name.  The  Index  Kewensis  refers  0. 
triacantha  as  a  synonym  of  O.  curassavica,  which  is  erroneous  if  our  interpretation  of  it  is 
correct. 

Plate  XVIII,  figure  3,  represents  joints  of  the  plant  collected  on  Antigua  by  Rose,  Fitch, 
and  Russell  in  1913.  Figure  140  is  from  a  photograph  taken  on  St.  Christopher,  British  West 
Indies,  by  Paul  G.  Russell  in  1913. 


BRITTON  AND  ROSE,  VOL. 


PLATE  XIX 


Opuntia  jamaiceiuis . 
1.  Plant.  2,  3.  Flower.  4.  Longitudinal  section  of  flower.  5,  6.  Stamens.  7.  Style. 


OPUNTIA. 


113 


An  Optintia  collected  by  H.  Pittier  in  Costa  Rica  and  now  growing  in  the  cactus  house 
of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  has  not  been  identified.  It  resembles  somewhat 
Opuntia  triacuntha,  but  is  much  out  of  the  range  of  that  species  and  differs  from  it  in  some 
important  respects.  The  joints  are  small,  obovate  to  oblong,  rounded  at  apex,  dark  green 
with  purple  blotches  below  the  areoles,  with  low,  broad  tubercles;  margin  of  the  areola 
bearing  short  white  hairs;  spines  usually  wanting,  but  cultivated  specimens  bear  a  single 
short  spine  6  to  7  mm.  K)ng  from  an  areole. 


Fig.   140. — Opuntia  triacantha. 

101.  Opuntia  jamaicensis   Britton  and  Harris,  Torreya  11:  130.      1911. 

Erect,  1  meter  high,  with  a  short  subcylindric  trunk;  branches  several,  ascending,  joints  dull  green 
obovate,  much  narrowed  at  base,  flat,  rather  thin,  readily  detached,  7  to  13  cm.  long,  5  to  7.5  cm.  wide 
areoles  about  2.5  cm.  apart;  spines  1  to  5,  usually  only  2,  acicular,  unequal,  white,  2.5  cm.  long  or  less 
flowers  4  cm.  broad;  petals  16  to  18;  filaments  greenish  white;  style  white;  stigma-lobes  7  or  8,  creamy 
white;  fruit  pyriform,  red,  3.5  to  4  cm.  long;  seeds  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   St.  Catherine,  Jamaica. 

Distribution:  Plain  south  of  Spanish  Town,  Jamaica. 

The  following  figures  are  from  paintings  by  Miss  H.  A.  Wood: 

Plate  XVIII,  figure  4,  shows  a  fruiting  joint;  figure  5  is  of  a  section  of  the  fruit;  plate 
XIX,  figure  1,  shows  the  type  plant  about  one-third  natural  size;  figures  2,  3,  and  4  are  of  the 
flowers;  figures  5  and  6  show  the  stamens;  figure  7  represents  the  style. 

\Q\a.  Opuntia  guatemalensis  sp.  nov.    (See  Appendix,  p.  218.) 

102.  Opuntia  tuna    (Linnaeus)  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  3.      1768. 

Cactus  tuna  Linnaeus,  Sp.  PI.  468.     1753. 

Cactus  horridus  Salisbury,  Prodr.  348.     1796. 

Cactus  humilis  Haworth,  Misc.  Nat.  187.     1803. 

Opuntia  humilis  Haworth,  Syn.  PI.  Succ.  189.     1812. 

Opuntia  polyantha  Haworth,  Syn.  PI.  Succ.  190.      1812. 

Cactus  polyanthos  Sims,  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  53:  pi.  2691.     1826. 

Opuntia  tuna  humilior  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  66.     1860. 

Opuntia  mullijlora  Nicholson,  Diet.  Gard.  2:  503.  1885. 
Plants  6  to  9  dm.  high  or  less;  joints  usually  small,  but  sometimes  up  to  16  cm.  long,  obovate  to 
oblong,  light  green,  except  above  the  areoles  and  there  brownish ;  leaves  minute,  fugacious ;  areoles  large ; 
spines  2  to  6,  usually  only  3  to  5,  slightly  spreading,  light  yellow;  glochids  yellow;  flowers  about  5  cm. 
broad;  sepals  orbicular,  yellowish,  with  a  purple  stripe  along  the  center;  petals  light  yellow,  slightly 
tinged  with  red,  oblong,  rounded  at  apex ;  filaments  short,  greenish  below ;  style  and  stigma4obes  cream- 


114 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


colored  or  yellowish;  ovary  bright  ^yrecn,  narrowed  downward;  truii  red,  obovoid,  about  3  cm.  long; 
seeds  3  to  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Jamaica. 

Distribution:  Southern  side  of  Jamaica,  West  Indies. 

Opiintia  tuna  is  one  of  tlie  old  Cactus  species.  It  was  described  by  Linnaeus  as  Cactus 
tuna  and  by  Philip  Miller  as  Opuntia  tuna.  In  the  early  part  of  the  Nineteenth  Century  it  was 
renamed  Opuntia  humilis  and  also  O.  polyantha.  and  has  long  passed  under  the  latter  name. 
Opuntia  tuna,  however,  is  one  of  the  commonest  Opuntia  names  in  our  botanical  literature. 
This  is  due  partly  to  the  fact  that  the  name  was  early  transferred  to  Opuntia  diUenii,  one 
of  the  most  common  species,  both  wild  and  cul  tivated,  and  partly  because  tuna  is  the  common 


Fig.  1-41.— Opunti; 


Mexican  name  for  opuntias,  and  many  species  have  therefore  been  identified  as  O.  tuna.  So  far 
as  our  studies  indicate,  this  species  is  confined  to  the  Jamaica  lowlands. 

Opuntia  multi flora  is  referred  here,  although  we  do  not  know  the  plant.  It  is  figured 
by  Nicholson  (Diet.  Card.  Nicholson  2:  f.  754);  this  figure  is  republished  by  Riimpler 
(Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  140),  and  by  Knippel  (Kakteen,  pi.  28),  both  calling  it 
Opuntia  polyantha,  while  W.  Watson  (Cact.  Cult.  f.  79)  uses  the  same  illustration,  calling 
it  O.  dillenii. 

Opuntia  maidenii  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club  46:  201.  1919)  described  from  a  culti- 
vated plant  sent  from  Australia  and  grown  at  Chico,  California,  seems  referable  to  this  species. 

Opuntia  coccinea  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  16 1.  1837)  is  given  as  a  synonym  of  0.  tuna,  but 
it  was  never  published;  it  is  doubtless  different  from  O.  coccinea  Rafinesque  (Med.  Fl.  U.  S. 
2:  247.  1830),  also  unpublished.  The  following  names  seem  to  belong  here,  but  were  not 
formally  published:  Opuntia  flexibilis  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  I6l.  1837);  O.  tuna  humilis 
Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  46.  1845  )  ;  O.  tuna  laevior  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  186. 
1834)  ;  and  O.  tuna  orhiculata  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  47.   1845). 

Illustrations:  Loudon,  Encycl.  PI.  ed.  3.  f.  6878,  as  Cactus  tuna;  Wiener  lUustr.  Gartenz. 
10:  f.  114,  as  Opuntia  humilis:  Bliihende  Kakteen  2:  pi.  75;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f. 
130;  Knippel,  Kakteen  2:  pi.  28,  these  three  as  Opuntia  polyantha:  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  53:  pi. 


2691,  as  Cactus  polyanthns;  De  CandoUe,  PI.  Succ.  Hist.  2:  pi.  138^''^  as  Cactus  opuntia  poly 
anthos;  Descourtilz,  Fl.  Med.  Antil.  pi.  513,  as  Cactus  opuntia.  Loudon,  Enc7cl.  pi.  411.  f. 
6880,  as  Cactus  polyanthos;  Monatssdir.  Kakteenk.  6:  25,  as  Opuntia  polyaiitha;  Deutsche 
Gart.  Zeit.  7:  447,  as  0.  huiiiilis;  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  ed.  3-  f.  62;  Cact.  Journ.  2:  169;  Useful 
Wild  Plants  U.S.  Canada,  opp.  18,  108,  174;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2599;  Schelle, 
Handb.  Kakteenk.  51.  f.  13;  Remark,  Kakteenfreund  24. 

Figure  141  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  collected  by  William  Harris,  near  Kingston, 
Jamaica,  in  1913;  figure  142  represents  a  joint  of  the  same  plant. 
\02ii.  Opuntia  pennellii   sp.  nov.    (See  Appendix,  p.  219.) 
10.3.     Opuntia  antillana  Britton  and  Rose,  Brooklyn  Bot.  Gard.  Mem.  1:  74.      iyi8. 

Growing  in  dense  clumps,  often  1  meter  broad,  more  or  less  prostrate;  joints  usually  obovate,  7 
to  20  cm.  long,  narrow  and  nearly  terete  at  base;  terminal  joints  easily  breaking  off;  leaves  conic- 
subulate,  about  2  mm.  long;  areoles  large,  2  to  3  cm.  apart,  containing  soft  brown  wool;  spines  stout, 
terete,  3  to  6  at  an  areole,  unequal,  1  to  6  cm.  long,  yellow  but  becoming  gray  to  nearly  white  in  age; 
glochids   numerous,    yellow;    flowers    5    to    7   cm.    long;   petals  broad,  obtuse,  yellow,  turning  reddish   in 

truii  reddish  purple,  4  cm.  lent;. 


Fig.   113. — Opuntia 

Basse  Terre,   St 


.ntillana  forming  thickc 

Christopher,  Rose 
Croix,  Tortola,   St. 


Type   locality 
February  2,  1913.' 

Distribution:    St.  Christopher,  St 
Thomas,  Porto  Rico,  and  Hispaniola. 

This  species  is  one  of  the  most  widely  distributed  in 
the  West  Indies  and,  on  some  of  the  islands  on  which  it 
occurs,  generally  the  most  abundant.  This  is  partly  due  to, 
the  fact  that  the  terminal  joints  are  easily  detached  and  may 
thus  be  widely  scattered. 

The  question  has  frequently  been  raised  in  our  minds 
whether  this  species  may  not  be  of  hybrid  origin.  It  has 
some  resemblance  to  O.  dillenii,  but  has  much  smaller  joints 
and  these  very  fragile.  What  the  other  parent  would  be 
is  not  so  clear.  The  fragile  joints  would  suggest  O.  tr'ui- 
cantha  or  O.  repens,  but  otherwise  there  is  no  close  alliance 
with  either  of  these.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  it  is  more 
common  than  any  of  these  species,  and  is  often  not  associated 


Fitch  and  Russell,  No. 


116  THE  CACTACEAE. 

with  any  of  them,  we  beUe\e  it  to  be  distinct.  In  the  desert  of  Azua,  Santo  Domingo,  this 
is  the  dominant  cactus,  forming  dense,  impenetrable  thickets  on  the  low  coastal  plain.  In  the 
wild  state  the  Azua  plant  has  the  joints  often  bronzed  or  purple.  On  Tortola  and  St.  Thomas 
it  occurs  with  O.  dilleuii  and  O.  repeiis,  and  is  there  called  bull  suckers. 

Opiint'id  doi)ii)2gensis  appears  without  description  in  Urban's  Symbolae  (8:  466.  1920). 
It  was  a  manuscript  name  for  which  O.  antillaua  was  substituted. 

Figure  143  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Paul  G.  Russell  in  1913  near  Azua,  Santo 
Domingo;  figure  144  represents  joints  of  the  type  plant. 

103rf.  Opuntia  caracasana  Salm-Dyck.    (See  Appendix,  p.  219.) 

104.  Opuntia  wentiana  sp.  nov. 

Opimtia  tmwides  Bricton  and  Sliafer  in  Boldingh,  Fl.  Ned.  W.  Ind.  Eiland  300.  1913.  Not  O.  timoidea 
Gibbes. 

Plant  erect,  much  branched,  1  to  2  meters  high;  joints  obovate  to  elliptic,  rather  thin,  up  to  25 
cm.  long,  usually  rounded  at  apex,  pale  green,  slightly  glaucous ;  terminal  joints  somewhat  fragile,  leaves 
small  and  subulate;  spines  on  young  joints  usually  3,  afterwards  4  or  5,  when  young  pale  yellow  but  soon 
white;  flowers  small,  6  to  7  cm.  long  including  the  ovary;  petals  pale  yellow,  3  cm.  long,  obovate,  acute; 
style  cream-colored ;  fruit  small,  red. 

Type  locality:   Curagao. 

Distribution:  Venezuela,  and  the  neighboring  islands,  Margarita,  Bonaire,  Curasao,  and 
Aruba. 

Dr.  Rose  found  this  plant  repeatedly  in  Venezuela  and  writes  of  it  as  follows:  Very  com- 
mon not  only  on  the  savannas  along  the  coast  but  also  on  the  neighboring  hills  along  with 
Lemaireocereus.  Cephalocereus,  and  other  cactus  genera;  its  more  or  less  fragile  joints,  yel- 
lowish spines,  bushy  stature,  and  structure  of  flowers  ally  it  with  the  Tunae. 

This  species  has  been  confused  with  the  Jamaican  Opuntia  tuna  (Linnaeus)  Miller,  which 
it  resembles.   Named  in  honor  of  Professor  F.  A.  F.  C.  Went,  distinguished  Dutch  botanist. 

104/.  Opuntia  aequatoriaiis  sp.  nov.    (See  Appendix,  p.  219-) 

105.  Opuntia  decumbens  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  361.     1834. 

Opuntia  p:iheruld  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  156.  1837. 
Stems  low,  often  creeping  or  trailing,  rarely  over  4  dm.  high;  joints  1  to  2  dm.  long,  oval  to  oblong, 
covered  with  a  short,  soft  pubescence;  areole  usually  small,  surrounded  by  a  purple  blotch,  bearing 
yellow  glochids  and  wool,  the  wool  cobweb-like  on  very  young  joints;  spines  often  wanting,  usually 
solitary  but  sometimes  numerous,  slender  or  rather  stout,  4  cm.  long  and  yellow;  flowers  numerous, 
small,  including  the  ovary  about  4  cm.  long;  petals  dark  yellow;  fruit  deep  purple,  very  juicy;  seeds 
about  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   In  Mexico. 

Distribution:   Guatemala  and  Mexico  as  far  north  as  Mazatlan  and  Tamaulipas. 

Opuntia  repens  Karwinsky  (Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  361,  1834)  and  0.  irrorata  Martins 
are  usually  given  as  synonyms  of  this  species,  but  as  they  were  printed  without  descriptions, 
they  should  hardly  be  referred  to  synonymy. 

The  species  has  long  been  in  cultivation,  a  colored  illustration  having  been  published 
in  Curtis's  Botanical  Magazine  in  1841.  It  grows  luxuriously  in  greenhouses,  flowering  pro- 
fusely in  the  spring. 

We  have  referred  here  Opuntia  puberula  Pfeiffer,  which  seems  to  be  different  from  the 
plant  now  grown  in  collections  under  that  name.  Pfeiffer's  original  description,  based  upon 
sterile  plants  alone,  may  be  paraphrased  as  follows:  Joints  thick,  obovate,  7.5  to  12.5  cm. 
long  by  5  to  7.5  cm.  broad,  puberulent,  green;  areoles  somewhat  remote,  each  surrounded  by 
a  red  spot,  bearing  in  the  upper  part  a  bunch  of  short  glochids  and  below  2  to  4  slender, 
white,  divergent  spines,  the  longer  ones  8  mm.  long;  leaves  4  mm.  long,  acute,  red  at  apex. 

Labourer's  description  of  1853,  of  0.  puberula  Pfeiffer,  is  very  similar  to  Pfeiffer's,  except 
that  he  states  that  the  spines  are  9  cm.  long.    Both  these  descriptions  answer  very  well  to 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


2.     Flowering  and  fruiting  joints  of  Opiiiiliu  decionhens.       3.      Probable  hybrid,  with   fruit  and   flower. 
(All  three-quarters  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  117 

the  plant  which  we  know  as  Opuntia  dt'Ci/Dibeiis.  orii^inally  described  from  plants  growing 
in  the  Botanical  Garden  in  Vienna. 

Opuntid  deaniihens  irrordtu  Forbes  (Hort.  Tour.  Germ.  158.  1837)  is  doubtless  the 
same  as  O.  /nonihi  Martins  (Pfeififer,  Enum.  Cact.  154.  1837).  These  and  0.  decuDibens  lon- 
ghpina  Salm-Dyck  (Haage  and  Schmidt,  Haupt-Verzeichnis  1912:  230.  1912)  presumably 
belong  here. 

bpiint'ta  parviipiud  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  238.  1850),  described  from 
garden  specimens  of  unknown  origin,  without  flowers,  has  never  been  definitely  placed.  Schu- 
mann lists  it  among  his  unknown  species,  but  attributes  it  to  Mexico.  Salm-Dyck  states  that 
it  resembles  O.  puhcnild.  but  that  it  is  glabrous. 

lllnstvdt!(»is:  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  68^  pi.  3914;  Bluhende  Kakteen  3:  pi.  132;  Bull.  U.  S. 
Depr.  Agr.  31:  pi.  7.  f.  1,  as  Opioit'ia  puberiihr.  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9, 
No.  3. 


Fig.   145. — Opuntia  decumhens. 

Plate  XX,  figure  1,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  MacDougal 
and  Dr.  Rose  at  Tehuacan,  Mexico,  in  1906;  figure  2  represents  a  fruiting  joint  of  a  plant  col- 
lected by  William  R.  Maxon  at  El  Rancho,  Guatemala,  in  1905.  Figure  145  is  from  a  photo- 
graph of  the  plant  taken  at  TomelHn,  Mexico,  by  Dr.  MacDougal  in  1906. 

106.     Opuntia   depressa   Rose.  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  517.      1908. 

Low,  creeping  or  spreading  plant,  sometimes  60  cm.  high  and  forming  a  patch  3  to  4  meters  in  diam- 
eter; joints  of  a  dark  glossy  yellowish  green  color,  pubescent,  when  young,  obovate,  20  cm.  long,  usually 
with  1  long,  sometimes  curved  spine  at  each  areole ;  sometimes  with  1  to  3  shorter  ones,  all  yellowish ;  old 
joints  oblong,  30  cm.  long,  bearing  4  to  6  spines  at  each  areole;  flowers  red;  fruit  small,  globular,  with 
large  clusters  of  brown  glochids,  when  immature  with  a  broad,  deep  umbilicus. 

T'^pe  locality.   Near  Tehuacan,  Mexico. 
Distribution:  Southern  Mexico. 

This  plant  is  very  common  about  Tehuacan,  growing  with  species  of  A};^dve.  Beducdnied, 
.uid  Echinucdctiis. 

Figure  146  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  of  the  type  plant. 


118 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


Fig.  l-i6. — Opunt 


Series  5.     BASILARES. 

We  recognize  eight  species  as  forming  this  series.  They  are  low  or  bushy,  much  branched  plants, 
with  flat,  thin,  broad  joints,  the  areoles  small,  usually  numerous  and  close  together. 

Key  to  Species 

Joints  papillose,  not  pubescent. 

Fruit  juicy,  red 107.   O.  liibrica 

Fruit  dry  or  nearly  dry 108.   O.  Ireleasei 

Joints  mostly  manifestly  pubescent. 
Spines  none  or  few. 

Flowers  red 109.  O.  kisilaris 

Flowers  yellow  to  orange. 
Joints  bright  green. 

Glochids   long 1 10.   O.   microJasys 

Glochids  short 111.0.  macrocalyx 

Joints  grayish  green 112.0.  rufida 

Spines  very  numerous. 

Areoles  close  together 113.  O.  pycnantha 

Areoles  distant 114.  O.  comonduensis 

107.     Opuntia  lubrica  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  169.    1910. 

"A  low  ascending,  spreading  species  very  similar  in  habit  to  O.  inicrodasys,  frequently  41/2  dm.  high 
and  when  well  developed  10  dm.  or  more  in  diameter;  joints  sub-circular  to  obovate,  about  15  by  20  cm., 
or  in  case  of  last  joints  of  previous  year  about  12  by  15  cm.,  bright,  glossy,  leaf-green,  very  evidently 
papillate  but  scarcely  pubescent  under  a  lens;  leaves  subulate,  cuspidate-pointed,  6  to  9  mm.  in  length; 
areoles  15  to  22  mm.  apart,  4  to  6  mm.  in  diameter,  sub-circular,  prominent;  spicules  prominent,  4  to 
5  mm.  in  length,  erect,  bushy,  in  crescentic  tufts  in  upper  portion  of  areoles,  becoming  much  more  numer- 
ous in  age,  and  at  2  to  4  years  completely  filling  the  areole,  and,  like  O.  rufida  and  some  other  species, 
becoming  very  abundant  and  conspicuous  by  proliferation  of  areolar  tissue  into  short  raised  or  columnar 
structures;  spines  exceedingly  variable,  sometimes  nearly  absent,  again  quite  abundant  and  irregularly  dis- 
tributed, none  to  many,  mostly  1  to  3,  becoming  more  numerous  with  age  and  in  scattering  areoles  to  as 
high  as  16,  mostly  about  12  mm.  long,  but  sometimes  21/2  cm.,  yellowish,  translucent,  bonelike,  some- 
times darker  at  base;  fruits  decidedly  acid,  light  red  without  with  yellowish  green  rind  and  red  pulp;  seed 
small,  thin  shelled,  about  3  mm.  in  diameter." 

Type  locality:  Near  Alonzo,  Mexico. 
Distribution:    Known  only  from  the  type  locality. 


OPUNTIA.  119 

Our  examination  of  a  painting  of  this  plant  in  the  collection  made  by  Dr.  Griffiths  showed 
it  to  have  great  similarity  to  Opunt'ia  rufida. 

llliistvaUou:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  pi.  23. 
Figure    147    is    copied    from    the    illustration    above 
cited. 

108.  Opuntia   treleasei   Coulter,   Contr.    U.   S.   N.u.   Herb.     3: 
434.    1896. 

Opuntia  basilaris  treleasei  Tourney,  Cycl.  Anier.  Hort.  Bailey 

3:   1147.     1901. 
Opuntia   treleasei   kernii  Griffiths    and    Hare,    N.    Mcx.    Agr. 
Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  81.      1906. 
Low,  sometimes  3  dm.  high,  spreading  at  base,  some  of  the 
branches  of  2  to  4  erect  joints;  joints  obovate,   15  cm.  long  or 
more,  fleshy,  pale  bluish  green,  glabrous,  terete  at  base;  areoles 
numerous,    filled    with    dirty    yellow    glochids,    usually   without 
spines,   sometimes   quite  spiny;   flowers   rose-colored;    fruit   dry, 
subglobose,  with  large  areoles  filled  with  glochids  and  sometimes 
bearing  spines;  seeds  large,  turgid,  7  cm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:  Caliente,  in  the  Tehachapi  Mountains, 
California. 

Distribution:  Southern  California. 

Figure  148  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  grou'- 
ing  on  the  mesa  southeast  of  Bakersfield,  California, 
taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  in  1913. 

109.  Opuntia  basilaris  Englemann   and   Bigelow,   Proc.   Amer. 
Acad.  3:  298.     1856. 

Opuntia  basilaris  ramosa  Parish,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  19:  92.    1S92. 
Opuntia  intricata  Griffiths,   Proc.    Biol.   Soc.   Washington   29: 
10.      1916. 


Fig.    147. — Opuntia   luhrica. 


^>^U-  ^^'i^ 


A^ 


'  ,r>^  J  •.  ^. 


Fig.  lis. — Opuntia  treleasei.  .Southern  Ca 


120  THE  CACTACEAE. 

Sttms  low,  growing  in  clumps,  either  prostrate  or  erect,  sometimes  12  dm.  high;  joints  broadly 
obovate,  8  to  20  cm.  long,  slightly  pubescent  or  glabrous,  usually  highly  colored;  leaves  2  to  5  mm. 
long,  subulate;  areoles  numerous,  filled  with  white  to  brown  wool  and  brownish  glochids;  spines  none 
or  rarely  a  few  at  upper  areoles;  flowers  large,  6  to  8  cm.  long,  deep  purple  or  sometimes  white;  filaments 
purple;  fruit  dry,  globular  to  obovoid;  seeds  large,  thick,  6  to  10  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   From  Cactus  Pass  down  the  valley  of  the  Bill  Williams  River. 

Distribution :  Northern  Sonora,  western  Arizona,  southern  California,  Nevada,  and  south- 
ern Utah. 

This  is  a  variable  species  as  to  habit,  size,  pubescence,  and  color  of  flowers.  The  variety 
raviosa  described  by  Mr.  Parish  is  more  erect  than  the  ordinary  form  and  glabrous.  It  has  large, 
handsome  flowers,  and  is  a  splendid  plant  for  outdoor  cultivation  where  the  climate  is  suitable, 
but  does  not  live  long  in  greenhouses.    It  is  called  beaver-tail  in  Arizona. 

Opuntia  dor\ii  is  advertised  by  Haage  and  Schmidt  (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  29:  Septem- 
ber).  We  have  had  a  cutting  which  we  would  refer  to  one  of  the  forms  of  O.  basihiris. 

Opuntia  huniistrata  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  83.  1916)  we  refer  here  from  the  de- 
scription; it  is  said  to  differ  from  O.  basilaris  "by  its  much  smaller  as  well  as  different  shaped 
joints";  it  was  found  in  the  San  Bernardino 
Mountains,  northern  California,  within  the 
range  of  O.  basilaris. 

The  following  varieties  are  listed,  but  have 
not  been  described:  a/bi flora,  coerulea.  nana. 
and  pfersdorflii. 

Opuntia  basilaris  cordata  is  a  garden  plant 
briefly  described  by  F.  Forbes  (Monatsschr. 
Kakteenk.  16:  A6.  1906),  of  which  we  have 
seen  no  specimens. 

Illustrations:  Cact.  Journ.  1:  167;  Diet. 
Gard.  Nicholson  2:  f.  750;  Forster,  Handb. 
Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  129;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  13, 
f.  1  to  5;  pi.  23,  f.  14;  Riimpler,  Sukkulenten  f. 
123;  W.  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  f.  76;  Cact.  Journ. 
1 :  pi.  October,  as  Opuntia  basilaris  var.  cristata 
and  var.  neradensis:  Alverson,  Cact.  Cat.  front-  F'g.  1 49.— Opuntia  basilaris. 

ispiece,  as  Opuntia  basilaris  albi flora;  Cact. Journ.  2:  163,  as  Opuntia  basilaris  albiflora; 
Cact.  Journ.  1:  pi.  for  October;  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  13,  as  O.  basi- 
laris cordata;  Mollers  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  f.  9,  No.  9,  as  O.  basilaris  minima;  Watson, 
Cact.  Cult.  ed.  3.  f.  53,  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  7:  312;  Remark,  Kakteenfreund  23;  Monatsschr. 
Kakteenk.  7:  125;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2597;  Gartenflora  31:  280;  Schelle,  Handb 
Kakteenk.  47.  f.  10. 

Figure  149  is  copied  from  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  13,  f.  1,  an  illustration  cited  above. 

Opuntia  brachyclada  Griffiths  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  27:  25.  1914)  is  an  anoma- 
lous plant  with  some  of  the  joints  terete  and  others  somewhat  flattened.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  it  is  a  hybrid  between  a  cylindric  and  a  flat- jointed  species;  but,  so  far  as  we  know,  natural 
hybrids  do  not  occur  between  species  of  these  subgenera.  It  is  more  likely  to  be  an  anomalous 
form  of  Opuntia  basilaris,  a  form  of  which  is  known  in  the  same  mountains  where  it  was  found 

110.    Opuntia  microdasys   (Lehmann)  Pfeiffer,  Enum.   Cact.  154.    1837. 

Cactus   microdasys    Lehmann,   Ind.   Sem.   Hamburg.   16.      1827. 

Opuntia  puli'inata  De  Candolle,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris   17:   119.      1828. 

Opuntia  microdasys  minor  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.    186.    1834. 

Opuntia  microdasys  laevior  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.   1849.  241.      1850. 

Often   low  and  creeping  but  sometimes  nearly  erect  and  4  to  6  dm.  high;  joints  oblong  to  orbicu 

lar,    10  to   15   cm.   long,   soft-velvety,   usually  pale   green,    spineless;    areoles    conspicuous,    closely    set, 

filled  with  numerous  yellow  or  brown  glochids;  flowers  usually  produced  in  abundance,  4  to  5  cm.  long. 

pure  yellow  or  tinged  with  red;  sepals  acuminate;  petals  broad,  retuse;  filaments  and  style  white;  stigma- 


121 


lobes  6  to  8,  green;  fruit  dark  red,  juicy,  nearly  globular;  seeds  small,  2  to  3  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   In  Mexico,  but  originally  stated  by  Lehmann  as  coming  from  Brazil. 

Distribution:  Northern  Mexico. 

In  spite  of  its  troublesome  glochids,  which  easily  become  detached,  this  species  has  long 
been  a  greenhouse  favorite.  No  cactus  collection,  however  small,  lacks  one  or  more  pots  of  this 
species,  which  rarely  grows  large  in  cultivation. 

Opuntia  vticrodasys  is  usually  credited  to  Lehmann,  but  he  apparently  published  it  as 
Cactus  microdasys,  and  this  is  the  way  it  is  cited  in  the  Index  Kewensis.  Lehmann  soon  re- 
published this  species  (Nov.  Act.  Nat.  Cur.  16:  317)  where  it  appears  as  Cactus  (Opuntia) 
microdasys.  The  first  use  of  the  name  of  Opuntia  microdasys  was  by  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck. 
186)  in  1834,  but  was  without  description  or  synonymy.  Pfeififer  in  1837,  however,  republishes 
Lehmarm's  description  under  Opuntia  and  is 
therefore  cited  as  the  author  of  the  binomial. 
Here  it  is  first  credited  to  Mexico,  although 
Lehmann  stated  definitely  that  it  comes  from 
Brazil ;  this  he  does  also  with  regard  to  Opuntia 
tunicata  and  Cactus  hradypus.  both  Mexican 
species,  while  Cactus  linkii  and  C.  (itt(i)iis.  both 


Fig.    150. — Opuntia  microdasys.  Fig.   m. — Opunti.i,  prciKible  hyhr 

credited  to  Mexico,  are  known  only  from  South  America.  If  this  Opuntia  really  came  origi- 
nally from  Brazil,  it  might  very  well  be  the  same  as  Opuntia  inanwena. 

As  shown  above  (p.  116),  Opuntia  puherula  is  referred  to  O.  decumbens.  The  O.  puber- 
ula  of  our  gardens,  however,  is  quite  a  different  plant,  and  in  all  probability  is  of  hybrid  origin. 
It  is  almost  identical  with  a  hybrid  between  O.  microdasys  and  O.  cantabrigiensis  which  Dr. 
Rose  collected  in  Hidalgo,  Mexico,  in  1905,  and  which  is  now  grown  in  the  collection  in  Wash- 
ington and  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden. 

Illustrations:  Agr.  Gaz.  N.  S.  W.  25:  pi.  opp.  p.  138;  p.  138;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  30:  f.  76; 
Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  pi.  28,  in  part;  20:  pi.  12,  in  part;  Safiford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst. 
1908;  pi.  10,  f.  4;  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Bur.  PI.  Ind.  Bull.  262:  pi.  5,  f.  2;  MoIIers  Deutsche  G5rt. 
Zeit.  25:  488.  f.  2,  No.  4,  as  Opuntia  microdasys  monstrosa;  Garden  13:  107,*  as  O.  pubes- 
cens;  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  47.  f.  9;  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  £.  9,  No.  16; 


is  very  poor  ;ind  the  identificatii 


ased  larRcly  upon  the  desc 


122 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Karsten  and  Schenck,  Vegetationsbilder  2:  pi.  22,  B. 

Plate  XXII,  figure  1,  represents  joints  of  the  plant  grown  in  a  garden  at  Riverside,  Cali- 
fornia, received  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1905.  Figure  150  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Professor  F. 
E.  Lloyd  in  Zacatecas,  Mexico,  in  1908. 

Plate  XX,  figure  3,  shows  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  sent  to  the  New  \'oik  Botanical 
Garden  by  M.  Simon,  of  St.  Ouen,  Paris,  France,  in  1901,  as  Opiiutui  pi/lnriila.    Figure  151 
is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  sent  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  to  the  same  institution  in  1912, 
as  OpHUtia  piiberida. 
111.    Opuntia  macrocalyx  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  268.    190S. 

"A  profusely,  divaricately  branched,  ascending  or  erect,  spreading  plant,  9  to  10  dm.  high  .uid 
about  the  same  in  diameter;  joints  long-obovate,  variable  but  commonly  9  by  22  cm.  for  last  year's 
growth,  gray  green,  pubescent,  velvety  to  the  touch;  areoles  subcircular,  usually  2  to  3  mm.  in  diameter, 
very  close  to  1  cm.  apart,  slightly  sunken;  wool  tawny,  prominent,  as  long  as  spicules  and  occupying 
lower  half  of  areole;  spicules  reddish  brown,  about  1  mm.  long,  occupying  upper  half  of  areole,  easily 
separable  and  causing  fully  as  much  annoyance  in  handling  as  those  of  O.  uiicrodasys.  in  age  often  ap- 
pearing dirty  yellow  /;/  situ  but  distinctly  reddish  brown  when  removed;  strictly  spineless;  flowers  yellow, 
green  outwardly,  the  leaves  on  ovary  very  long  subulate  and  changing  gradually  into  the  sepals  which  are 
very  long  subulate,  delicately  pointed,  loosely  arranged  or  often  half  recurved  at  apex,  giving  to  the  bud  a 
rather  ragged  appearance;  fruit  red  but  both  pulp  and  rind  greenish,  long  obovate  to  cylindrical,  about 
2  bv  7  cm.,  with  but  few  rather  small  seeds,  about  3  mm.  in  diameter.  " 


Fig.  152. — Opuntia  macrocalyx.     x  0.75 


Type  locality:   In  cultivation  at  Riverside,  California. 

Distribution:    Known  only  from  cultivated  plants;  perhaps  also  from  Coahui 
lllust)atio)i:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  pi.  28,  in  part. 

Figure  152  is  drawn  from  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Edward  Palmer  at  Sa 
ico,  in  1904. 

112.    Opuntia  rufida   Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3 :  298.    1856. 

Opuntia  microdasys  rufida  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  706.     1898. 


a,  Mexico, 
tillo,  Mex- 


OPUNTIA.  123 

More  or  less  erect,  2  to  15  dm.  high,  with  a  somewhat  definite  trunk;  joints  nearly  orbicular,  6  to 
25  cm  in  diameter,  thickish,  velvety-tomentose,  dull  grayish  green;  leaves  subulate,  caducous,  4  to  6  cm. 
long,  green  with  reddish  tips;  areoles  large,  filled  with  numerous  brown  glochids;  flowers  yellow  to  orange; 
4  to  5  cm.  long  including  the  ovary;  petals  obovate,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long;  filaments  greenish  white,  short, 
1  cm.  long;  style  1.5  cm.  long,  thick,  bulbous  just  above  the  base;  stigma-lobes  5,  deep  green;  ovary 
globular,  1.5  cm.  in  diameter,  umbilicate,  with  large  areoles;  fruit,  according  to  field  observation  of  Dr. 
Griffiths,  bright  red. 

Type  locality:   About  Presidio  del  Norte,  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

Distributio)!:  Texas  and  northern  Mexico. 

Tliis  species  seems  much  less  common  than  O.  luicrocidsys,  with  which  it  is  often  con- 
fused. The  joints  are  gray  or  bluish  green,  and  the  glochids  are  brown.  It  does  fairly  well 
under  greenhouse  conditions. 

lllustYdUou:   Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi.  .o;  Carnegie  hist.  Wash.  269:  pi.  11,  f.  94. 

Figure  153  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  brought  from  Mexico  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  in  1896  by  Mrs.  N.  L.  Britton. 


113.    Opuntia  pycnantha  Engelmann  in  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  423.    1896. 
Opuntij  pyaiunth.,   ium^mUmui  Coulter,   Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  424.    1896. 

Often  low  and  creepmg,  but  sometimes  forming  a  clump  2  dm.  high;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular, 
often  20  cm.  long,  puberulent  or  papillose,  usually  nearly  hidden  by  the  thick  mass  of  spines;  areoles 
large  and  closely  set,  the  upper  part  filled  with  yellow  or  brown  glochids,  and  the  lower  part  with  8 
to  12  yellow  or  brown  reflexed  spines  2  to  3  cm.  long;  leaves  and  flowers  unknown;  fruit  4  cm.  long, 
very  spiny;  seeds  2  cm.  broad,  very  thick. 

Type  locality:   Magdalena  Bay,  Lower  California. 

Distributio)!:  Southern  Lower  California. 

Coulter's  variety  Duiygaritdihi  is  known  only  from  Margarita  Island,  while  the  species 
proper  is  known  only  from  an  adjacent  island,  Magdalena.  They  differ  only  in  the  color  of 
their  spines  and  glochids.  Both  have  been  in  cultivation  in  New  York  City  and  Washington, 
but  are  not  well  suited  for  indoor  plants. 

This  species  grows  in  one  of  the  driest  parts  of  Lower  California  on  islands  where  there  is 
no  surface  water  and  where  there  is  no  rain  sometimes  for  five  or  six  years. 

Figure  154  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Santa  Maria  Bay,  Magdalena 
Island,  Lower  California,  in  1911. 

Opuntia  pyoiacantha  (Just's  Jahresb.  24^:  380.  18)  seems  to  have  been  a  misspelling  for 
O.  pycnantha. 


124 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


114.  Opuntia  comonducnsis  (Coulter)  Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  519.  1908. 
Opuntia  angustata  comonduensis  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  li").  1H96. 
Low,  spreading  plants,  sometimes  2  dm.  high  and  forming  broad  clumps;  joints  obovate  to  orbicular. 
12  to  15  cm.  long,  softly  pubescent;  areoles  large,  filled  with  brown  wool  and  yellow  glochids;  lower 
areoles  spineless,  the  upper  ones  bearing  1  or  2,  rarely  3,  or  on  old  stems  as  many  as  10,  slender  spines. 
3  to  5  cm.  long  or  longer,  yellow;  flowers,  including  ovary,  6  cm.  long,  yellow;  fruit  purple,  4  cm.  long, 
spineless;  seeds  4  to  4.5  mm.  broad,  thick. 

Type  locality:    Comondu,  Lower  California. 
Distribution:  Southern  Lower  California. 

As  was  pointed  out  by  Mrs.  K.  Brandegee,   this  plant   is  not  closely   related   to   OpiDitia 
augustitta. 


This  species  has  long  been  known  only  from  herbarium  specimens  collected  by  Mr. 
Brandegee  in  1889.  In  191 1  Dr.  Rose  collected  considerable  material  both  near  the  town  of  San 
Jose  and  on  Carmen  Island  which  has  since  been  in  cultivation  in  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden  and  in  Washington.  The  above  description  is  based  largely  on  this  collection. 

This  species  sometimes  grows  with  0.  tapona.  in  fact  being  confused  in  the  original  ma- 
terial; except  for  its  pubescent  joints,  they  are  not  readily  distinguished. 

Figure  153  is  from  a  photograph  by  Mr.  T.  W.  Smillie  of  a  plant  collected  by  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  and  Mr.  E.  A.  Goldman  in  Lower  California  in  1906. 


OPUNTIA. 


125 


Fig.   156.— Opiini 


graph  hy  P.  H.  Dorsett. 


Series  6.    INAMOENAE. 

A  single,  prostrate  or  depressed,  usually  spineless,  light-green  Brazilian  species. 


Martius, 
t.  Bdis  89 


Fl.  Bras.  4-':  .^06.  189(). 


115.    Opuntia  inamoena  Schumann  in 

Opunti.i  qiiipj  Weber,   Dici.   Hi. 

Usually  low,  often  prostrate,  forming  clumps  2  to  10  dm.  broad,  or 
sometimes  in  sheltered  situations  6  cm.  high  and  forming  dense,  extensive 
thickets;  roots  fibrous;  joints  bluish  green,  when  young  bright  green, 
orbicular  to  oblong,  8  to  16  cm.  long,  usually  quite  thick,  sometimes  3  cm. 
thick,  usually  quite  spineless;  leaves  minute.  2  mm.  long;  areoles  small, 
when  young  filled  with  numerous  yellowish-brown  glochids;  glochids  un- 
equal, spreading,  easily  becoming  detached ;  flowers  small,  brick-red ;  petals 
spreading;  filaments  orange;  style  yellow;  stigma-lobes  pale  green;  fruit 
globular,  yellowish,  2.5  to  3  cm.  in  diameter. 

Type  Locality.  Schumann  cites  Rio  de  Janeiro  in  original 
description. 

Distribution:   Pernanibuco,  Bahia,  and  Minas  Geraes,  Brazil. 

This  plant  is  known  as  quipa  in  Bahia,  Brazil. 

This  species  is  very  common  in  all  the  dry  part  of  Bahia  and,  although  abundant  and 
mostly  spineless,  is  avoided  by  all  kinds  of  grazing  animals,  even  when  the  country  is  devoid 
of  other  suitable  forage.  It  has  been  suggested  that  the  plant  may  be  bitter,  or  that  the  glochids 
are  troublesome;  the  glochids,  however,  are  usually  wanting  on  old  joints. 

The  plant  rarely  develops  acicular  spines  up  to  3  cm.  long  on  some  joints,  as  shown  by 
specimens  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  and  Mr.  Russell  near  Machado  Portello,  Brazil. 

Figure  156  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Mr.  P.  H.  Dorsett  near  Joazeiro,  Brazil,  in 
1914;  figure  157  is  from  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Machado  Portello,  Bahia,  Brazil, 
in  1915. 


126 


THE  CACTACEAE. 
Series  7.   TORTISPINAE. 


Prostrate  or  spreading  plants  rarely  erect,  with  mostly  rather  small,  persistent,  scarcely  tuberculate, 
orbicular  or  oval  joints,  and  large  flowers;  natives  of  the  eastern,  central,  and  southern  United  States. 

Plate  21  represents  a  group  of  hardy  cacti,  chiefly  species  of  this  series,  at  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden. 

Key  to  Species 

Spines  none  or  only  1  or  2  at  an  areole. 

Joints  bluish  green;  at  least  when  young;  roots  tuber-Hke. 
Fruit  clavate;  joints  thin. 

fruit  about  4.5  cm.  long 116.  0.  alia. 


Fruit  5  to  7  cm.  long. 


O.  lata 


l\.  O. 

XI.  o. 


hizj 


IJ}.   O.  pliimbea 


O. 


Fruit  obovoid ;  joints  turgid 117.   O.  pollardii 

Joints  green;  roots  not  tuberous. 
Flowers  8  cm.  broad  or  less. 

Joints  orbicular  or  little  longer  than  wide 118.   O.  opuntia 

Joints  oblong,  much  longer  than  wide 119.   O.  mMi\iilhi\. 

Flowers  10  to  12  cm.  broad 120.   O.  gnnnlitloi. 

Spines  mostly  2  or  more  at  an  areole. 
Ovary  obconic,  2  to  4  cm.  long. 
Roots  tuberous. 

Joints  repand;  plant  suberect 

Joints  scarcely  repand ;  plants  nearly  prostrate 
Roots  not  tuberous. 

Flowers  and   fruit  small 

Flowers  and  fruit  large. 

Spines  white  to  light  brown,  slender. 

Seeds   acute-margined 

Seeds  obtusL-m.iiuiiicd. 

Fruit  I.Li.ur,  I  tn  =.  cm.  long;  spines  light  colored.    125.  O.  stenochiL. 

Fru)t  siii.ill,  2  to  '^  cm.  long;  spines  brown 126.   O.delicata 

Spines  dark  bmwn,  muui    127.   O.  fiiscoalij 

Ovary  narrowly  subcylindric,  "i  lo  6  cm.  long 127i(  O.  mjcjieei 

116.  Opuntia   allairei    Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Card.    20:8.^.    1909. 

A  low,  spreading,  tuberous-rooted,  prostrate  plant, 
with  some  of  the  joints  ascending;  joints  bluish  green, 
obovate,  usually  10  to  15  cm.  long,  originally  described 
as  even  longer,  with  or  without  spines;  spines, 
present,  1  to  3,  yellowish  brown,  2.5  cm.  long  or  less, 
slender  but  a  little  flattened;  glochids  numerous,  espe- 
cially abundant  at  very  old  areoles,  yellow;  leaves  6 
to  8  mm.  long;  flowers  6  to  7  cm.  broad,  yellow  with 
a  red  center;  fruit  4  to  5  cm.  long,  dark  red. 

Type  locality:  Mouth  of  Trinity  River, 
Texas. 

DistributJon:  Southern  Texas  and  western 
Louisiana. 

This  species  is  perhaps  nearest  O.  inaaor- 
h'lza,  but  differs  in  the  usual  absence  of  spines 
and  in  differently  colored  joints. 

Illustrations:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi. 
2,  f.  2;  pi.  5;  pi.  12,  in  part 

Figure  158  is  copied  from  the  second  illus- 
tration above  cited. 

Il6a.    Opuntia  lata  Small,  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard. 
20:26.    1919.    (See  Appendix,  p.  220.) 

117.  Opuntia   pollardii   Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.   Misc.  Coll.  50:  523.    1908. 

Prostrate,    tuberiferous,    related    to    Opuntia    opiint'ui:  young  joints  bluish  green,   glaucous,    5   to   16 
cm.   long,    1   to   2   cm.   thick;   areoles    1.5   to   3   cin.   apart,  bearing  numerous  yellow  glochids  2   to   3  cm. 


159.— Opuntia  pollard] 


BRITTON  AND  ROSE 


OPUNTIA  127 

long,  those  toward  the  top  of  the  joint  each  with  a  single  stout,  stiff,  pungent  spine  2.5  to  4  cm.  long;  fruit 
short-obovoid,  2.5  cm.  long,  1.5  cm.  thick,  with  a  few  areoles  bearing  tufts  of  brownish  wool  but  no  spines 
and  but  few  glochids;  flowers  yellow,  6  to  8  cm.  broad;  sepals  deltoid  to  rhombic;  fruit  2.5  to  4  cm.  long; 
seeds  4  to  6  mm.  wide,  much  thicker  than  those  of  O piintia     opinithi. 

Type  locality:  Biloxi,  Harrison  County,  Mississippi. 

Distribution:  Coastal  plain,  Church  Island,  North  Carolina,  to  northern  Florida,  Ala- 
bama, and  Mississippi. 

Figure  159  is  from  a  photograph  of  fruiting  joints  collected  by  A.  H.  Howell  on  Petit 
Bois  Island,  Alabama. 
118.   Opuntia  opuntia  (Linnaeus)  Karstcn,  Deutsch.  I"l.  HHH.    1H82. 

Cactus  opuntia  Linnaeus,  Sp.  PL  -468.      1753. 

Cactus  compressus  Salisbury,  Prodr.  348.     1796. 

Cactus  opuntia  nana  De  Candolle,  PL  Succ.  Hist.  2:  pi.  138.  [A].      1799. 

Cactus    Ijumifusui    Rafinesque,    Ann.   Nat.    15.      1820. 

Opunti.i  iuls,Mis  mjioi  Salm-Dyck,  Observ.  Bot.  3:  9.      1822. 

Opunttj   nilgjrn  medui*'   Salm-Dyck.  Observ.   Bot.   3:  9.      1822. 

Opuntia   hunnJNSj   Rafinesque.   Med.   Fl.   U.   S.    2:   247.      1830. 

Opuntia  me  sac  ant  ha  Rafinesque.  Bull.  Bot.  Seringe   216.      1830. 

Opuntia  caespitosa   Rafinesque,    Bull    Bot.  Seringe  216.      1830. 

Opuntia  intermedia  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  364.      1834. 

Opuntia  nana  Visiani,   Fl.   Dalmatjca  3:    143.      1852. 

Opuntia   rafinesqueif  Engelmann.    Proc.   Amer.    Acad.  3:  295.      1856. 

Opuntia  rafinestjuei  microsperma  Engelmann,    Proc.  Amer.  Acad.   3:   295.      1856. 

Opuntia  rafinesquei   minor  Engelmann   and    Bigelow,  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:   55.      1856. 

Opuntia  vulgarn  rafineu/i/ci  Gray,  Man.   Bot.   ed.  2.   136.      1856. 

Opuntia   rafinesqm:   .iiLiin.ni.i   Rumpler   in    Fo.ster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  922.      1885. 

Opuntia   mesac.niil'.i    mur.nperma   Coulter,   Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  429.      1896. 

Opuntia  mesat.iiilh.i  p.m.,  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.   Nat.  Herb.  3:   429.      1896. 

Opuntia  nilgjiit    ii.iii.i  Schumann,   Gesamtb.   Kakteen  715.      1898. 

Opiiiiii.i  humilin.i   micusperma  Heller,   Cat.   N.  Amer.  PL  ed.  2.  8.      1900. 

Opuni,.,  l.iimit'".'  I'.nra  Heller,  Cat.  N.  Amer.  PI.  ed.  2.  8.  1900. 
Low,  spreading  plants,  sometimes  ascending,  with  fibrous  roots;  joints  orbicular  to  oblong,  3  to  13 
cm.  long,  rarely  longer  thick,  dark  green;  areoles  usually  far  apart;  leaves  subulate,  appressed  or  spread- 
ing, 4  to  8  mm.  long,  early  deciduous;  spines  often  wanting,  when  present  usually  one  from  an  areole, 
rarely  two,  5  cm.  long  or  less,  brownish  or  sometimes  nearly  white,  but  on  seedlings  5  to  12;  glochids 
numerous,  yellow  to  dark  brown;  flowers  usually  bright  yellow,  sometimes  with  reddish  centers,  5  to  8.5 
cm.  broad;  petals  8  to  10,  widely  spreading;  filaments  yellow;  stigma-lobes  white;  fruit  obovoid  to  ob- 
long, red,  juicy,  2.5  to  5  cm.  long,  edible;  seeds  4  to  5  mm.  broad. 
Type  locality:  In  Virginia. 

Distribution:  Sandy  and  rocky  places  from  Massachusetts  to  Virginia,  the  mountains  of 
Georgia  and  central  Alabama  extending  north  into  southern  Ontario,  Canada  (Point  Pelee), 
west  in  isolated  colonies  to  northern  Illinois,  eastern  Missouri  and  Tennessee,  and  long 
established  in  the  mountains  of  northern  Italy  and  Switzerland. 

Linnaeus  undoubtedly  had  rwo  species  in  his  Cactus  opuntia.  one  being  the  low  Virginia 
plant  commonly  known  as  O.  vulgaris,  and  the  other  a  tall,  branching  plant  figured  by 
Bauhin  (p.  154).  Upon  Bauhin's  illustration  Miller  based  his  Opuntia  vulgaris,  a  name 
which  was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  low,  procumbent  plant  of  the  eastern  United  States. 
For  this  reason  Burkill  (Rec.  Bot.  Surv.  India  4:  288.  1911)  would  displace  the  name  O. 
vulgaris  and  take  up  the  name  O.  nana.  We  are  quite  in  agreement  with  him  as  to  the  O. 
vulgaris  Miller,  but  we  retain  for  the  low  plant  the  specific  name  opuntia  Linnaeus.  The  tall 
species  is  O.  nionacantha.  which  we  now  call  O.  vulgaris,  as  suggested  by  Burkill. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  southern  Atlantic  coast  specimens  of  Opuntia  opuntia  have 
yellow  or  greenish-yellow  glochids,  while  those  in  its  northern  and  western  range  have  brown 
glochids.  Its  southwestern  limit  is  uncertain.  It  probably  does  not  extend  to  Texas,  although 
two  varieties  have  been  reported  from  there ;  these  we  are  disposed  to  treat  as  species  under 
the  names  Opuntia  niacrorhiza  and  O.  granciijiora.  It  is  reported  from  eastern  Kansas,  but 
the  plants  found  there  are  not  like  those  found  in  Illinois  and  Indiana,  having  more  spines 

*  Opuntia  vulgaris  minor  (Labourer,  Monogr.  Cact.  476.    1853)  was  doubtless  intended  for  this  name. 
+  Sometimes  spelled  rafinesquiana. 


128 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


and  a  glaucous  bloom,  and  are  tuberous-rooted,  and  these  are  referred  by  us  to  0.  niacro- 
rhiza.  The  published  western  varieties  of  O.  hui)ii\usd  arc  specifically  distinct;  we  have 
referred  them  to  O.  tort'isphia. 

Some  of  the  joints  of  this  plant  elongate  under  shade  conditions,  reaching  at  least  2.5 
dm.  in  length  and  not  more  than  5  cm.  in  width. 

Opiint'ta  arkansana  (Hirscht,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  8:  115.  1898)  has  not  been  for- 
mally described.    The  name  should  doubtless  be  referred  here. 

Opuntia  prostrata  Monville  and  Lemaire  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  478.  1846)  was  given 
only  as  a  synonym  of  O.  intermedia,  while  O.  intermedia  prostrata  Salm-  Dyck  (Cact.  Hort. 
Dyck  1849.  69.  1850)   was  based  on  O.  prostrata. 

O.  M/iw^J^//^/' /'rf/Ttf  Haage  and  Schmidt  (Verzeichnis  Blumenzwiebeln  1915:  29.  1915) 
is  a  new  name  for  O.  mesacantha  parva  Coulter. 

Under  Opuntia  vulgaris  Michaele  Gandoger  in  his  Flora  Europea  (9:  145.  1886)  has 
proposed  the  following  new  binomials:  O.  recedens,  O.  morisii,  O.  cycloidea,  O.  inaequalis, 
O.  Ugustica.  and  O.  mediterranea.  The  following  varieties  cited  under  0.  humijusa  are  in 
the  trade:  cymochila,  greenei.  macmrhiza,  oplocarpa  and  stenochila  (Stand.  Cycl.  Hort. 
Bailey  4:  2363.  1916.)' 


(I       'i;,    :;,      inMin.i  in   its  natural   surroundings  on   Staten   Island,   New  York. 

Illustrations:  lUustr.  Fl.  2:  f.  2527;  ed.  2.  2:  f.  2986;  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  50:  pi.  2393; 
Loudon,  Encycl.  Pi.  ed.  3.  f.  6884,  the  last  two  as  Cactus  opuntia;  De  CandoUe,  PI.  Succ. 
Hist.  2:  pi.  138  [A];  DeTussac,  Fl.  Antill.  2:  pi.  30,  the  last  two  as  Cactus  opuntia  nana. 
Dept.  Agr.  N.  S.  W.  Misc.  Publ.  253:  pi.  [1],  f.  2;  Engler  and  Prantl,  Pflanzenfam.  3"': 
f.  57,  G.  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  12;  Pac.  R.  Rep. "4:  pi.  10,  f.  1,  2,  4:  pi.  23,  f.  13; 
Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  Nachtr.  f.  1,  all  as  Opuntia  vulgaris.  Standard  Cycl.  Hort. 
Bailey  4:  f.  2602,  in  part  as  Opuntia  humijusa.  Amer.  Entom.  Bot.  2:  f.  160;  Amer.  Garden 
11:  462;  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  115:  pi.  7041;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  2:  f.  756;  Fl.  Serr.  22: 
pi.  2328;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  2;  Gard.  Mag.  4:  280;  Gartenflora  24:  218;  Lemaire, 
Cact.  f.  9;  Meehan's  Monthly  2:  pi.  6;  10:  121;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  10,  f.  4,  5;  pi.  23, 
f.  7,  8;  Riimpler,  Sukkulenten  f.  125;  W.  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  f.  84,  all  as  Opuntia  rafinesquei; 
Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  11,  f.  1,  as  Opuntia  rafinesquei  minor;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f. 


BRITTON  AND  ROSE 


1.  Joints  of  Opiintta  nucrodasys. 

2.  Flowering  joint  of  Opunt'ia  niacnirthi 

3.  Fruit  of  Opunt'ia  macrarthra. 


4.  Seed  of  same. 

5.  Flowering  joint  of  Opiiiitii  opinitia 
(All  three-fourths  size  except  4.) 


OPUNTIA  129 

126,  as  Opuntia  rafinesquei  arkansana;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  14:  124,  as  Opuntla  vulgaris 
nana;  Miller,  Fig.  PI.  Gard.  Diet.  2:  pi.  191,  as  Opuntia  jo/io  minori,  etc..  Diet.  Hort. 
Bois  f.  638;  Rev.  Hort.  40:  f.  10,  11;  66:  f.  J>9,  M  as  Opz/ntia  rafinesq/ziana.  Wiener  lUusn. 
Gartenz.  10:  f.  112,  as  Opuntia  rafinesquiana  arkansana. 

Plate  XXII,  figure  5,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  tlic  plant  wiiicli  grows  naturally 
on  schistose  rocks  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden.  Figure  160  is  from  a  photograph  of 
the  plant  growing  on  sand  dunes  at  Crooke's  Point,  Staten  Island,  New  York,  taken  by 
Howard  H.  Cleaves  in   1914. 


119.    Opuntia  macrarthra  Gibbes,  Proc.  Elliott  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  1:  273.    1859. 

Stems  prostrate  or  ascending;  joints  narrowly  oblong  to  obovate,  12  to  35  cm.  long,  thick,  pale 
green,  somewhat  shining;  leaves  subulate,  10  mm.  long,  green,  sometimes  with  purplish  tips;  areoles 
large,  2  to  3  cm.  apart,  filled  with  brown  wool;  spines  wanting,  or  sometimes  1,  up  to  2.5  cm.  long; 
glochids  when  present  yellow;  flowers  not  known;  truit  narrowly  obovoid,  red,  fleshy,  4  to  6  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Near  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

Distribution:  Coast  of  South  Carolina. 

This  species,  long  overlooked,  has  recently  been  col- 
lected by  Dr.  J.  K.  Small  in  the  vicinity  of  the  type  locality. 

This  is  doubtless  one  of  the  species  to  which  Elliott 
called  attention  and  which  he  said  he  expected  to  publish, 
but  never  did.*  The  original  description  long  remained 
unnoticed  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Elliott  Society  of  Natu- 
ral History;  it  is  as  follows: 

'The  second,  which  we  will  call  Opuntia  iiiMraiihra.  falls  un- 
der the  same  section  with  the  preceding,  and  seems  to  be  near 
Opiiutia  angustata,  of  Engeimann,  from  the  west  of  the  Rio  Grande; 
a  prostrate  species,  joints  from  ten  to  fifteen  inches  long  and  three 
inches  wide,  one-third  of  an  inch  thick;  no  spines,  fruit  two  and  a 
half  inches  long,  slender,  clavate." 

Plate  XV,  figure  3,  represents  a  fruiting  joint  collected 
by  Dr.  Small  on  James  Island,  South  Carolina,  in  1916; 
plate  XXII,  figure  3,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  the 
plant  collected  by  Dr.  Small  on  the  Isle  of  Palms,  near 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  1916;  figure  3  shows  a  fruit 
of  the  same  plant  and  figure  4  a  seed,  enlarged. 
120    Opuntia  grandiflora    Engeimann.  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  295 

1856. 


icjuei  giijiidifloi 
\1nti7a  grandifio 


Engeimann,  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  55.      1856. 
:;  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herh.  3 :  -\ 


;  areoles  2.5  cm.  apart;  spmes 
red  center;  petals  broad;  fruit 


Low,  with  somewhat  ascending  branches;  joints  12.5  to  n  ci 
usually  wanting;  flowers  very  large,  11  to  12.5  cm.  broad,  yellow- 
elongated,  6  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  On  the  Brazos,  Texas. 

Distribution:  Eastern  Texas. 

Although  Dr.  Engeimann  formally  described  this  as  a  species,  he  introduced  it  as 
"probably  only  a  southern  variety  of  O.  rafinesquei."  A  little  later  he  actually  used  the  name 
as  a  variety.  The  position  of  the  plant  is  still  uncertain;  if  specimens  collected  by  Mr.  Wm. 
R.  Maxon  at  Victoria,  Texas,  and  by  Mr.  C.  V.  Piper  at  Dallas,  Texas,  belong  here,  as  they 
appear  to,  we  believe  it  to  be  a  distinct  species. 

Illustrations:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  11,  f.  2,  3,  as  Opuntia  rafinesquei  grandiflora. 

Figures  161  and  162  are  copied  from  the  illustrations  above  cited. 

*  Caclus  opuntia.  "It  is  probable  that  there  are  now  three  distinct  species  on  the  sea  coast  of  the  Southern  .Statt- 
covered  under  this  name."     Elliott,  A  Sketch  of  the  Botany  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  1:  537. 


130 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


121.    Opunda  austrina  Small,  Fl.  Southeast,  U.  S.  816.     1903. 

Opiiittia  youngii  C.  Z.  Nelson,  Chicago  Examiner.  June  13,  1915. 
Roots  fusiform  or  tuberous,  resembling  sweet  potatoes,  often  -J  to  6  cm.  in  diameter.  5  to  1 5  cm. 
long;  stems  erect  or  ascending;  joints  narrowly  obovate  to  oblong-obovate,  thick,  tuberculate,  repand. 
bright  green,  5  to  12  cm.  long;  leaves  soon  cleciduous.  less  than  10  mm.  long;  glochids  yellowish :  spines 
usually  on  the  upper  half  and  margin  of  the  joint,  often  2,  sometimes  1  to  6,  from  an  areole,  whitish  or 
pinkish,  darker  at  base  and  apex,  twisted,  sometimes  wanting;  flowers  bright  yellow,  6  to  7  cm.  broad- 
petals  cuneate,  truncate  or  retuse  at  apex,  mucronate;  fruit  2.5  to  .3  cm.  long. 


-Opuntia  austrina. 

Type  locality:  Miami,  Florida. 

Distribution:  Soutliern  Florida. 

Opuntia  youngii  C.  Z.  Nelson,  published  in  a  Chicago  newspaper,  we  have  referred  here, 
after  studying  a  specimen  sent  by  the  author. 

Opuntia  spinalba  Rafinesque  (Atl.  Journ.  1:  147.  1832)  was  described  as  from  the  keys 
of  Florida,  and  answers  in  some  respects  to  0.  austrina;  but  it  is  very  unlikely  that  any 
plants  of  the  region  inhabited  by  austrina  were  known  to  botanists  as  early  at  1832. 

Figure  163  represents  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Small  at  the  type  locality  in  1901. 

121a.  Opuntia  eburnispina  Small,  sp.  nov.  (Appendix  following  page  226). 

122.    Opuntia  macrorhiza  Engelmann,  Bost.  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.  6:  206.     1850. 

Opiiiil'hi  jiisijnrmii  Engelmann  and   Bigelow,   Pnic.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  297.     1856. 
OpiinlU  rafineujuci  fuuformis  Engelmann,   Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  43.      1856. 
Opuntia  ;wi  >./.,'./.'  .   ",  ,.',-//,,.,  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  ?>:  -430.      1896. 
Opuntia  x^tm:  ciMiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:   166.     1910. 

Opuntia    (vyu  ,  \l   ,       .     -, ,    Bull.    Club    38:    142,      1911. 

Plant  low,  usually  m..a!)  luuitrate,  forming  a  clump  1  meter  in  diameter,  from  a  cluster  of  tuber- 
like  roots,  these  sometimes  5  to  7.5  cm.  in  diameter;  joints  orbicular  to  obovate,  dull  green,  5  to  16  cm. 
long,  about  1  cm.  thick;  leaves  subulate,  4  to  10  mm.  long;  areoles  rather  large,  the  lower  ones  and  some- 
times all  of  them  spineless;  glochids  numerous,  yellow  or  brown;  spines,  when  present,  1  to  4,  unequal, 
yellow  to  brown,  the  longest  2.5  cm.  long;  flower  yellow,  with  a  reddish  or  purplish  center,  7  to  8  cm. 
broad;  fruit  narrowly  obovoid,  3.5  to  5  cm.  long,  purple  or  red,  with  a  depressed  umbilicus,  not  edible; 
seeds  5  mm.  in  diameter,  with  broad  margins. 

Type  locality:  Rocky  places  on  the  upper  Guadalupe,  Texas. 
Distribution:  Missouri  and  Kansas  to  Texas. 

Opuntia  seguina  C.  Z.  Nelson  (Galesburg  Register,  July  20,  1915),  published  in  a  news- 
paper, and  said  to  have  come  from  San  Antonio,  Texas,  seems  to  be  one  of  the  Tortispinae, 


OPUNTIA  131 

and  is  probably  referable  to  O.  macrorhizu.    Throut^h  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Nelson,  we  have 
seen  a  joint  of  this  species. 

OpHutid  bulhosa  Engelmann  (Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  297.  1856)  was  used  by  Engehnann 
for  O.  \usi\ormh,  but  never  described. 

Opuntui  uiacrorhiza.  originally  described  by  Dr.  Engelmann  as  a  species,  was  afterwards 
(Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  296.  1856)  proposed  as  a  subspecies  but  not  formally  indicated,  so 
that  the  reference  O.  rafinesquei  macrorhiza  Coulter  (Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  430.  1896) 
is  the  proper  designation  if  it  is  used  as  a  variety. 

Illustrations':  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  69;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  11,  127;  Pac.  R. 
Rep.  4:  pi.  12,  f.  7,  8;  pi.  23,  f.  6;  Suppl.  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  f.  6()6;  W.  Watson,  Cact. 
Cult.  f.  82,  83;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  pi.  20,  in  part,  this  last  as  Opimtia  xanthoglochia; 
Addisonia  'l:  pi.  19;  Watson,  Cact.;  Cult.  ed.  3.  f.  59;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  4:  580.  f.  50,  51. 

Plate  xiv,  figure  5,  represents  a 
flowering  joint  of  the  plant  collected  at 
Irving,  Dallas  County,  Texas,  by  Albert 
Ruth  in  1912. 

123.  Opuntia   plumbea   Rose,   Smitl. 
Misc.  Coll.  50:  524.    1908. 
Plant    low,    creeping,    10    cm.    high,    20 

to  30  cm.  broad,  few  jointed;  joints  small, 
nearly  orbicular,  3  to  5  cm.  in  diameter, 
of  a  dull  lead-color,  the  surface  somewhat 
wrinkled  in  dead  specimens;  areoles  rather 
large  for  the  size  of  the  joints;  spines  pale 
brownish,  slender,  usually  porrect,  often  3 
cm.  long,  mostly  2  in  number,  rarely  as  many 
as  4,  sometimes  one  or  even  wanting;  flowers 
very  small,  red;  ovary  naked;  fruit  1.5  to  \ 
cm.  long  with  a  few  small  areoles  and  thL^x■ 
simply  woolly;  seeds  small,  rather  turgid, 
smooth,   and   with   a  shallow  obtuse   margin 

Type  locality:  San  Carlos  Indian 
Reservation,  Arizona. 

Distribution:    Arizona.  F'g-  iw.— Opuntu  plumhe.i. 

This  is  a  peculiar  little  opuntia  with  very  small  joints  and  fruits.  It  is  known  only  from 
the  original  collections  made  by  Mr.  F.  V.  Coville  in  1904. 

Figure  164  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  specimen. 

124.  Opuntia  tortispina  Engelmann,  Proc  Amer   Acad    3"  293     1856 


Opuni, , 

•   ,     >^,«       Inu 

OpinU, , 

<)»    ./   w  lni,d 

Op„„u, 

Opunu, 

Op„n, 

Op,n 

Op:n, 

Op,aU^ 

mt .  u  tnlh  I    i,pl 

Opurtia 

g,eene,  Engelm 

1    Pac    R    Rep    4     pi    2-, 
Pioc    Amei    Acid    3    295      1SS6 
in,l(.nnnn     Picic     Amei     Acid     3 

I  M^   liiiiMM      I'm       Amci    Acid  3 


5       1SS6 
96 


1856 
295     1856 
I  lu  liiMhii    111  I  Bi.elow    Pic    R    Rep    4:42.     1856. 
I  I     nil     I      s    \u    Herb    S    4i()      1896 

<     Mil     I     s    \,t  Hcih    ^     111     1896 
(oultci     Ciuiti    L'    i.    Nit    Heib    S    4il      1896 
Button    md    Rose    Smiths    Misc    Coll    50     52t     1908. 
{>)    Opuntia   (a«.g«/«of«/r  GriHiths    Pioc     Biol    Soc    Wishington  27     26     1914 
Prostrate  and  cieepmg     ]omts  iscending    orbicuhr  to  oboMte    15  to  20  cm.   long;  areoles   1.5  to 
3  cm.  apart     spmes  se\eral    often   6  to  8    the  upper  and   longer  ones   3  to  6  cm.   long,  either  white, 
yellowish,  or  brown ;  on  the  upper  areoles  one  spine  erect,  the  others  spreading  or  with  the  lowermost 
ones  deflexed;  flowers  sulphur-yellow,  6  to  7.5  cm.  broad;  fruit  rather  large,  4  to  5  cm.  long.  2  to  3  cm. 
broad;  seeds  4  to  6  mm.  broad,   thick,   regular,  with  a  slight  indentation  at  the  hilum. 
Type  locality:  On  the  Camanchica  Plains  near  the  Canadian  River. 
Distribution:  Wisconsin  to  South  Dakota,  Texas,  Kansas,  Colorado,  and  New  Mexico; 
southeastern  Colorado.    Established  and  slowly  spreading    east    of    Cincinnati,    Ohio    (E.    T. 
Wherry) . 


132 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


This  has  long  remained  one  of  our  least-understood  species.  We  believe  now  that  it 
has  a  wide  range,  and  that  it  has  been  referred  heretofore  to  several  species.  Opuntia  cynio- 
chila  does  not  seem  to  differ  from  it,  and  the  two  published  varieties  of  Opmilia  inesaaaitha. 
geographically  out  of  harmony  with  that  species,  doubtless  belong  here. 

Opiint'id  oplocarpa  Engelmann  (Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  431.  1896)  was 
published  only  as  a  synonym.  Opuntia  vapnesqiiei  greenei  (Cat.  Durrah  Succ.  Manchester  58. 
1908)  is  a  catalogue  name. 

The  plant  is  hardy  at  New  York,  flowering  profusely,  and  also  at  Buck  Hill  Falls,  east- 
ern Pennsylvania. 

Illustrations:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  12.  f.  1  to  3;  pi.  23,  f.  10  to  12;  Rev.  Horr.  Belg.  40; 
after  186,  all  as  Opuntia  cymochila:  Illustr.  Fl.  2:  f.  2528;  ed.  2.  2;  f.  2987;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4: 
pi.  10,  f.  3;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2602,  in  part, 
these  as  Opuntia  huniijusa.  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  8,  f.  2,  3; 
pi.  23,  f.  1  to  5,  as  O.  tortisperma.  Illustr.  Fl.  2:  f.  2529; 
ed.  2.  2:  f.  2988;  Watson,  Cact.  Cult,  ed  3.  pi-  opp.  102; 
Meehans'  Monthly  11:  57,  as  Opuntia  inesacantha:  Meek- 
ans'  Monthly  5:  172,  as  Opuntia  oplocarpa. 

Plate  XV,  figure  4,  represents  a  flowering  and  fruiting 
joint  of  a  plant  from  Colorado,  grown  at  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden. 

125.  Opuntia  stenochiia  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad. 
3:  296.   1856.* 

Opuntia    meiacantha    stenochiLi    Coulter,    Contr,    L'.    S.    Nat 
Herb.  3:  430.    1896. 

Prostrate;  joints  obovate,  10  cm.  long  by  7.5  cm.  bro.id ; 
leaves  small,  4  to  6  mm.  long;  spines  usually  2,  sometimes  3, 
spreading,  1  long  (2.5  to  3  cm.  long),  and  1  or  2  short  and 
reflexed,  usually  light-colored,  sometimes  nearly  white;  giochids 
brown;  flowers  yellow,  6  cm.  long;  fruit  very  juicy,  4  to  5  cm. 
long  or  more,  attenuate  at  base;  seeds  thick,  quite  regular,  with 
very  narrow  obtu.se  edges. 

Type  locality:  Canyon  of  Zuni,  New  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Western  New  Mexico  and  Arizona. 

Tliis  species  has  not  been  well  understood.  It  has 
usually  passed  as  a  variety  of  the  common  species  of  the 

eastern  Mississippi  Valley  States,  but  it  grows  in  a  very  opuntia  stenochil.i, 

different  region.    It  is  the  common  low,  spreading  Opun-   Figs.  i65,  1 66.— Fruits.      Fig.  1 67.- -joint. 
tia  of  northwestern  New  Mexico  and  Arizona. 

Illustrations:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  12,  f.  4  to  6;  pi.  23,  f.  9. 

Figures  165,  166,  and  167  are  copied  from  the  first  illustration  above  cited. 

126.  Opuntia  delicata  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  13:  310.   1911. 

A  small,  procumbent  plant  with  rather  thin,  ovate,  bluish,  slightly  glaucous  joints,  often  only  4  to 
9  cm.  in  diameter;  areoles  prominent,  bearing  conspicuous  brown  giochids;  lower  areoles  spineless,  the 
upper  ones  bearing  1  or  2  very  slender  brownish  spines,  the  longer  one  3  to  4  cm.  long;  flowers 
yellow,  5  cm.  long,  5  to  6  cm.  broad;  fruit  oblong,  spineless,  2  to  3  cm.  long;  seeds  small,  about 
4  mm.  in  diameter,  nearly  smooth. 

Type  locality:    Calabasas,  Arizona. 

Distribution:    Southeastern  Arizona. 

Figure  168  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant. 

127.  Opuntia  fuscoatra  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  297.   1856. 

Difi^use  prostrate  plants;  joints  orbicular  to  obovate,  somewhat  tuberculate,  5  to  8  cm.  long,  areoles 

id   hence   Coulter 


*Altliough  formally  published  as  a  species,  Engelmann   states   that   it   i 
(Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  430.    1896)   uses  the  synonym  O.  refines<iuei 


I   form   or  subspecies, 
nochild  Engelmann. 


BRITTON    AND   ROSE 


1.    Flowering  joint  of  Opiintui  juscoatya.         2.    Upper  pa.n  o(  \o\m  oi  0/)//ij/ht  s/ilph/nej. 
3.     Joints  of  Op/inlia  leii/iispiihi.    (All  three-fourths  size.) 


133 


•     ^ 

1 

12  to  20  mm.  apart,  very  large  for  the  group;  spines  single  or  in  twos  or  threes,  one  rather  stout,  some- 
times a  httie  flattened,  2.5  to  .t  cm.  long,  yellow  to  dark  brown  or  even  nearly  black;  usually  from 
the  lower  areoles;  glochids  numerous,  brown;  flowers  7.5  cm.  broad,  yellow;  petals  very  broad;  stigma- 
lobes  5;  ovary  2.5  cm.  long,  slender;  fruit  4  to  5  cm.  long,  red;  seeds  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Sterile  places  of  prairies  west  of  Houston,  Texas. 

Dntnhntiou:  Eastern  Texas. 

lllnstialiniis:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  11,  f.  4. 

Plate  xxiii,  hgure  (,  represents  .•■  lluwering  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  W.  L.  McAtee 
at  Rockport,  Texas,  in  1911. 

127a.  Opuntia  macateei  sp.  uov    (See  Appendix,  p.  221.) 

Opuntia  rubifi.ora  Griffiths.  Bull.    lorr    Club  43:  529.      1916. 

Described  as  a  spreading  plant  3  to  4.5  dm.  high  and  a  meter  broad,  with  obovate, 
green  joints  12  to  18  cm.  long,  few  white  spines  up  to  5  cm.  long  with  brown  or  straw- 
colored  bases,  and  pink  flowers.  The  species  is  based  on  cuttings  received  from  European 
collections,  and  its  origin  is  unknown. 

We  have  received  a  similar  if  not  identical  plant  from  Haage  and  Schmidt  of  Erfurt, 
Germany,  and  we  suspect  it  to  be  a  hybrid,  having  one  of  the  Tortisp'niae  as  one  of  its 
parents. 

The  specific  name  nihiiloiu  was  used  by  Davidson  a  few  months  earlier  than  by 
Griffiths  for  another  plant. 

Series  8.  SULPHUREAE. 

Low  or  prostrate  species,  with  rather  thick,  flat,  tuberculate  joints;  fruit  small,  nearly  globular. 
Three  species,  natives  of  central  and  southern  South   America. 

Key  to  Species. 

Flowers  yellow. 

Spines   stout,   subulate 128.  0.  iulphurea 

Spines  slender,  acicular 129.  O.  soehrensii 

Flowers  red 130.  O.  microdisca 


128.   Opuntia  sulphurea  G.  Don  in  Loudon,  Hort.  Brit.  196.   1830. 

opuntia  maculacantba  Forster,  Handb.  Garienz.    17:   166.    1861. 
Opuntia  pampeana  Spegazzini,  Conir.  Fl.  Ventana  30.    1896. 
Opuntia  vulpina  Weber,  Diet.  Hon.  Bois  895.   1898. 


134  THE    CACTACEAE. 

Plants  low  and  spreading,  fornning  broad  clumps  1  to  2  meters  in  diameter,  3  dm.  high  or  less; 
joints  flattened,  oblong  to  obovate,  12  to  25  cm.  long,  thick,  strongly  tuberculate,  usually  green  but 
sometimes  purplish;  terminal  joints  easily  detached;  leaves  conic,  about  2  mm.  long;  spines  2  to  8, 
generally  straight  but  sometimes  curved  and  twisted,  spreading,  3  to  10  cm.  long,  brownish  to  red, 
but  sometimes  quite  pale  at  first;  flowers  about  4  cm.  long,  yellow:  fruit  with  a  deep  umbilicus,  short, 
about  1  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Cited  as  Chile,  but  doubtless  wrong. 

Distiibution:  Dry  parts  of  western  Argentina;  recorded  also  from  Chile,  and  perhaps 
occurring  in  Bolivia. 

This  species  was  not  seen  in  Chile  by  Dr.  Rose,  and  we  are  doubtful  in  considering  the 
Bolivian  material  to  be  0.  uilphiiyea:  the  joints,  as  shown  by  Dr.  Rose's  specimens,  col- 
lected at  La  Paz  (No.  18860),  while  thick,  are  not  conspicuously  tuberculate;  the  spines  are 
rather  short  and  stiff,  white  at  first,  but  somewhat  yellowish  or  horn-colored  in  age. 

The  name  Cactus  siilphureus  Gillies  was  published  by  G.  Don  at  the  place  cited  above 
as  a  synonym  of  this  species. 

Opiintia  maculacanthd  was  first  described  from  specimens  from  Buenos  Aires,  which  had 
doubtless  been  sent  down  from  the  desert  regions  to  the  west  or  northwest.  Schumann  in 
his  Monograph  referred  this  species  to  Mexico,  but  in  his  Nachtrag  corrects  this  statement. 
Dr.  Weber,  with  whom  we  are  in  agreement,  refers  the  species  to  O.  sulphured.  It  is  the  only 
species  we  know  with  such  large  tubercles  on  the  joints. 

Several  varieties  of  this  species,  some  of  which  have  been  described,  are  given,  such  as 
laevior.  major,  minor,  and  pallidior. 

Mr.  W.   B.  Alexander  writes  as  follows  concerning  this  species: 

"This  is  by  far  the  commonest  species  of  Opuniia  in  the  Argentine,  where  it  is  commonly  known  as  penca',  i.  e.  the  spiny  plant, 
sometimes  being  distinguished  from  other  larger  species  by  the  name  penquilla'  or  penca  chica  .  The  writer  met  with  it  in  the  provinces 
of  Buenos  Aires,  Cordoba,  San  Luis,   Mendoza,  San  Juan.   La  Rioja,  Catamarca  and  Santiaga  del  Estero." 

Here  probably  belong  Opuntia  sericea  G.  Don  (Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  363.  1834), 
also  reported  from  Chile,  but  doubtless  from  Argentina.  Cactus  sericeus  Gillies  (Loudon, 
Hort.  Brit.  196.  1830)  is  the  same.  There  are  several  varieties  of  O.  if /vV^-rf  which  we  would 
put  with  it:  loiigispina  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  363.  1834);  coerulea  Forbes  (Hort.  Tour 
Germ.  159.  1837)  which  is  probably  O.  coerulea  GilUes  (Pfeififer,  Enum.  Cact.  155.  1837); 
maeletiii  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  46.  1845)  which  is  0.  maelenii  (Salm-Dyck, 
Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  46.  1845).  Opuntia  tweediei  (Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  745. 
1898)  is  given  as  a  synonym  of  this  species  by  Schumann.  Opuntia  albisetosa  Hildmann,  a 
name  only,  belongs  here  according  to  Hirscht  (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  10:  48.  1900). 

Illustrations:  Bliihende  Kakteen  3:  pi.  136;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  8:  121;  Schumann. 
Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  106,  Wiener  111.  Gart.  Zeit.  28:  f.  17;  all  as  Opuntia  maculacantha. 
Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  18. 

Plate  xxiii,  figure  2,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose 
near  Cordoba,  Argentina,  in  1915. 

129.   Opuntia  soehrensii  sp.  nov. 

Cactus  ayrampo  Azara,  Voy.  2;  526.      1809. 

Opuntia  liaenquiana  Herrera,  Rev.  Univ.  Cuzco  8:  60.      1919. 

Prostrate,  in  masses  usually  1  meter  in  diameter  or  less;  joints  at  first  erect  or  ascending,  finally 
prostrate  and  rooting  and  forming  new  colonies,  flattened,  rather  thin,  somewhat  tuberculate,  very  spiny, 
orbicular,  4  to  6  cm.  in  diameter,  often  purplish;  spines  slender,  rather  variable  in  color,  usually  yel- 
low or  brown,  several  from  each  areole,  sometimes  as  many  as  eight,  the  longest  ones  5  cm.  long, 
erect;  flowers  light  yellow,  3  cm.  long;  sepals  brown ;  filaments  yellow ;  style  white;  stigma-lobes  green; 
fruit  naked,  3  cm.  long;  seeds  3  to  3.''  mm.  broad,  ovate,  thickish,  with  narrow  margin  and  rough- 
ened sides. 

Highlands  of  southern  Peru,  Bolivia,  and  northern  Argentina.  Type  collected  by  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  J.  N.  Rose  below  Pampa  de  Arrieros,  Peru,  August  23,  1914  (No.  18967). 

This  species  is  very  common  in  its  region,  but  as  it  is  cultivated  somewhat  for  its  seeds 
as  well  as  used  as  a  protection  for  gardens  and  yards,  its  natural  distribution  is  difficult  to 


OPUNTIA  135 

determine.  On  the  barren  hills  below  La  Paz,  Bolivia,  the  species  is  well  established  and 
grows  as  if  native;  on  some  of  these  hills  it  is  the  dominant  and  sometimes  exclusive  plant. 
In  the  same  general  region,  however,  one  finds  the  plant  about  the  houses,  especially  on  walls, 
where  it  has  undoubtedly  been  planted.  At  Oruro,  Bolivia,  it  was  seen  only  in  the  wild  state, 
while  at  several  stations  along  the  railroad  between  Juliaca  and  Cuzco,  Peru,  especially  at  Com- 
batata  and  Tinta,  Peru,  it  has  been  planted  on  top  of  many  of  the  mud  walls  about  the  yards. 
On  the  hills  below  Pampa  de  Arrieros,  Peru,  the  species  is  extremely  common  and  undoubt- 
edly native. 

The  plant  is  knt)wn  everywhere  by  the  natives  as  ayrampo.  The  seeds  are  collected  in 
great  quantity  and  dried,  and  may  be  bought  in  the  market  places,  especially  in  Arequipa. 
Indeed,  there  must  have  been  a  time  when  they  were  shipped  by  freight,  for  the  name 
Ayrampo  has  always  appeared  on  the  printed  freight  classification  of  the  Southern  Railroad 
of  Peru.  The  assistant  superintendent  of  the  road,  Mr.  Brown,  states  that,  so  far  as  he 
knows,  there  are  few  or  no  shipments  made  now.  One  of  the  places  in  Peru  where  Dr.  Rose 
found  the  plant  very  abundant  is  named  Ayrampal.  '!     \' 

The  dry  seeds,  when  placed  in  water,  yield  a  red  substance  which  !/, 

is  used  for  coloring  jellies  and  gelatine  and,  according  to  some,  for  '"~i^/ 

coloring  wines.   In  former  days  the  Indians  also  used  this  substance  in  '.~^^ 

some  of  their  carnival  ceremonies.    The  coloring  matter  does  not  come  - 

from  the  seeds  themselves,  but  from  the  red  juice  of  the  fruit  which  has      ^_,,'  wj.  ^  \-         " 

dried  on  the  surfaces.  "  ^^^^h^j^^J^^ 

Azara's  original  description  is  interesting  and  a  translation  of  it  is  given:  /      y  \^ 

-K  species  of  tun.lla   (cactus)   whuh  .s  found  m  the  temperate  gorges  near  the  Cordillera  produces  Fig!    169— Optintia 

the  seed  in  question.    The  plant  is  found  in  and  and  sterile  soil  where  ordinarily  this  family  of  plants  ,  •        a  -i 

grows  and  thrives  by  creeping  on  the  ground  m  such  a  way  as  to  stifle  all  the  others.     From  the  seed  soenrensil.  X  U.4. 

confined  within  the  round  and  spiny  fruit  is  derived  a  color  of  clear  violet,  brilliant  and  extremely  agreeable  to  the  eye  but  very  super- 
ficial and  very  light,   although  it  acquires  a  little  stability  and  durability   by   the  means  of  alum   and  some   other  chemicals. '" 

Figure  169  represents  a  joint  of  this  species  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Aruro,  Bolivia,  in 
1914. 

129a.  Opuntia  macbridei  sp.  nov.  (Appendix  following  page  226). 
130.    Opuntia  microdisca  Weber,  Diet.  Hort,  Bois  896.    1898. 

Forming  small  clumps,  very  much  branched,  prostrate;  joints  mostly  obovate  to  oblong,  4  to  8 
cm.  long,  usually  much  flattened,  but  sometimes  nearly  cylindric,  grayish  green;  leaves  minute,  purple, 
soon  dropping  ofT;  areoies  numerous,  5  to  6  mm.  apart,  rather  large,  when  young  densely  white-felted; 
spines  10  to  15,  white  to  reddish,  unequal,  some  of  the  centrals  1.5  to  2.5  cm.  long;  glochids  num- 
erous, yellow;  flower-buds  red;  flowers  2.5  cm.  long,  bright  red;  filaments  purple;  style  white;  stigma- 
lobes  6  to  8,  short;  ovary  turbinate,  16  mm.  long,  bearing  numerous  areoies  subtended  by  narrow  red 
leaves ;  areoies  on  ovary  densely  felted  and  bristly ;  fruit  red. 

Type  locality:   In  Catamarca,  Argentina. 

D'ntrlbiitiou:   Northern  Argentina. 

Schumann  refers  this  species  to  Flatyopuntia,  while  Weber 
referred  it  to  Tephrocactiis.  It  evidently  belongs  to  our  Sulphureae. 
being  nearest  our  0.  soehrensii. 

Our  description  is  drawn  chiefly  from  specimens  obtained  by 
J.  A.  Shafer  between  Andalgala  and  Concepcion,  Argentina,  in 
1916,  supplemented  by  a  living  specimen  obtained  by  Dr.  Speg- 
azzini  in  1915.  In  Argentina  this  species  also  is  known  as  ayrampo. 

Figure  170  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  J.  A. 
Shafer  between  Andalgala  and  Concepcion,  Argentina,  Decem- 
ber 28,  1916  (No.  24) r 

To  this  relationship  may  belong  the  following  species: 

Opuntia  penicilligera  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  II.  [„     ,,    _Cnt  it  Opu 

4:  291.      1902.  isca     xo- 

Low,   nearly  prostrate;   joints   flattened,   orbicular  to  broadly  obovate,    10  to   12  cm.  long,  7  to  10 

cm.   broad,   dull   green ;   spines   slender,   rwisted,   one  elongated  and   1   to   5  cm.  long,  the  others  much 

shorter,    all    white;    glochids    brownish;    flowers    from    the    lateral    and    marginal    areoies,    citron-yellow; 


136  THE    CACTACEAE. 

ovary  3  to  3.5  cm.  lon^',  with  very  many  areoles  be.trin^  numerous  glochids;  style  thick;  stigma-lobes 
8  to  10,  greenish  white;  fruit  reddish,  clavate,  4.5  cm.  long,  with  a  depressed  umbilicus;  seeds  small, 
3  to  3.5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:    Argentina,  between  Rio  Negro  and  Rit)  Clolorado. 

Distribution:  Southern  Argentina. 

According  to  Dr.  Spegazzini,  this  species  is  not  near  to  any  of  the  known  South  Ameri- 
can species,  but  resembles  somewhat  the  North  American  species  O.  /i/icroddsys  and  O. 
basil aris.   We  know  it  only  from  the  description. 

Mr.  W.  B.  Alexander  sends  us  the  following  account  of  this  plant: 

"This  plant  was  met  with  close  to  the  coast  at  Bahia  Blanca,  and  near  the  foot  of  the  Andes  at  Tunuyan.  As  remarked  by  Speg- 
azzini. this  species  is  very  distinct  from  any  other  found  in  Argentina  and  there  seems  no  reason  tor  thinking  that  it  may  belong  to  the 
Series  Sulphureae  in  which  it  is  tentatively  placed  in  the  Cactaceae.  It  should  surely  be  the  type  of  a  separate  series  or  be  placed  in  the 
Series  Basilares,  to  the  members  of  which,  judging  by  illustrations,  it  shows  great  resemblance." 

Opuntia  catalantha  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:   524.      1916. 

A  low,  creeping,  prostrate  plant  15  cm.  long,  one  meter  in  diameter;  joints  obovate,  narrowed 
above  and  below,  inequilateral,  1 1  cm.  long,  4  cm.  broad,  tubetculate-wrinkled,  mostly  deep  green ;  areoles 
1  to  1.5  mm.  long,  obovate,  at  first  tawny,  turning  gray;  leaves  small,  subulate,  cuspidate,  red.  1  mm. 
long;  glochids  yellow;  spines  5  to  10,  up  to  5  mm.  long;  flowers  carmine;  fruit  globular,  1.5  cm. 
in  diameter. 

Recorded  as  probably  of  South  American  origin  and  usually  distributed  as  Opiiiitia 
iiiicrodisca,  but  from  which  it  is  said  to  differ  very  much.  The  plants  known  to  us  only  from 
the  description  of  cultivated  specimens.  , 

Series  9-  STRIGILES. 

The  series  consists  of  a  single  species,  native  of  Texas        /( 
It  is  a   low,  bushy  plant  with   large  joints  beating  man)         '^  \     ^ 

areoles,    these   close   together,   each   with   several    acicular         *  '^ 

reddish  brown  spines;  the  fruit  is  small.  ^  , 

131.  Opuntia  strigil  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad 

3:  290.    1856. 

Suberect,  6  dm.  high;  joints  otbiculat  to  obovate,  10  to  12  5  cm  long 
ateoles  close  together,  prominent;  spines  5  to  8,  spteadmg  miny  of  them 
appressed  to  the  joint  and  deflected,  red  to  reddish  brown  with  lighter  tips 
the  longer  ones  2.5  cm.  long;  glochids  numerous;  flowers  unknown  fruits 
small,  nearly  globular,  12  mm.  in  diameter,  truncate,  red  trcolc 
very  small;  seeds  3  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  In  crevices  of  limestone  rock,  between  the  Pecos 
River  and  El  Paso,  Texas.  ' '  | 

Distribution:  Texas. 

A  rare  plant,  first  collected  by  Charles  Wright  in  1851.   Engel-     ^"'-  "^"^Pr"'  '"'^''' 
mann  says  in  the  Mexican  Boundary  Report  that  it  was  also  collected 
by  Wright  and  Bigelow,  but  there  is  no  mention  of  it  in  his  report 

on  Bigelow's  plants,  nor  do  we  find  specimens  in  the  Engelmann  herbarium,  so  that  it  would 
appear  that  this  reference  to  Bigelow  was  a  mistake.  Bigelow,  it  is  true,  crossed  the  River 
Pecos,  on  which  the  type  was  found,  but  it  was  well  up  in  New  Mexico  and  not  in  Texas, 
where  it  was  crossed  by  Charles  Wright.  It  was  more  recently  collected  by  Nealley  some- 
where in  Texas.  The  place  of  collection  by  Wright  and  the  later  one  by  Nealley  are  very 
indefinitely  indicated  on  the  labels  accompanying  the  specimens. 

lllustratiij)i:    Cact.  Mex.  bound,  pi.  67. 

Figure  171  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

Series.  10.    SETISPINAE. 

Bushy  or  depressed  species,  with  tuberous  or  thickened  roots,  broad,  flat,  thin  joints,  and  elon- 
gated, aciculat,  brown  spines  which  fade  whitish;  theit  fruits  are  large  and  juicy.  We  recognize  six- 
species,  natives  of  the  south  central  and  southwestern  United  States  and  northern  Mexico.  They 
approach  the  Toiiispiii.ie  on  the  one  hand  and  the  Phaeacanthae  on  the  other. 


OPUNTIA 

Key  to  Species. 


137 


132.   O.  megarhiza 

ess 133.   O.  iallii 


Joints   elongated 

Joints  obov.itc  to  orbicul 
Fru.t  sni.ill.  2  cm.  loi 
Fi-u.t   l..ii;c,  l^   to  6  cm.   long. 

Flowers    ted   to   purple 134.   O.  pcttsii 

Flowers  yellow. 

Areoles  large,  more  or  less  elevated  on  old  joints;  joints  glaucous,  purplish  about  the 

areoles -- I  35.0, 

Areoles  small;  mature  joints  green  throughout. 

Joints  usually  orbicular;  seeds  5  to  6  mm.  broad 136.   O. 

Joints  ohovate;  seeds  4  mm.   broad  or  less 137.   O. 


p,na 


■xkemenii 
'ui'pina 


132.  Opuntia  megarhiza,  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  10:  126.    1906. 

Roots  long  and  thickened,  sometimes  3  to  6  dm  long,  "S  to  6  cm.  in  diameter;  stems  low,  2  to  3  dm 
high,  much  br.inched ;  lower  joints  elongated,  2  to  3  dm.  long,  cuneate  below,  thin,  3  cm.  broad,  lateral 
joints  appearing  along  the  margins  of  the  older  joints  and  often,  if  not  always,  in  the  same  plane;  spines 
2  to  4,  acicular,  1  to  2.5  cm.  long,  brown;  leaves  minute;  flowers  lemon-yellow,  often  tinged  with  rose,  5 
cm.  broad;  petals  about  13,  ohovate,  mucronately  tipped;  stigma-lobes  7,  greenish;  ovary  clavate,  3  cm. 
long;  fruit  and  seeds  unknown. 

Type  locdlity:  Alvarez,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  San  Luis  Potosi,  Mexico. 

This  species  is  not  very  closely  related  to  the  other 
species  of  this  series,  but  it  is  referred  here  on  account 
of  its  very  slender  spines. 

133.  Opuntia  ballii  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.    13: 
309.    1911. 

Plants  low,  spreading;  joints  obovate,  6  to  10  cm.  long, 
thickish,  pale  green,  glaucous;  spines  2  to  4,  brownish,  a  little 
flattened,  usually  ascending  or  erect,  the  larger  ones  4  to  7  cm. 
long;  glochids  conspicuous;  fruit  small,  about  2  cm.  long,  clavate, 
glaucous,  spineless;  seeds  thick,  3.5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Pecos,  Reeves  County,  Texas. 

Distribution:  Western  Texas. 

Wooton  and  Standley  in  their  Flora  of  New  Mexico  refer  this  species  to  Opuntia  pli- 
pendula,  but  0.  ballii  grows  in  a  different  habitat,  has  smaller  fruit,  stouter  and  erect  spines, 
and  different  areoles;  it  grows  on  the  dry  mesa  beyond  Pecos,  Texas. 

Illustrations:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  13:  pi.  (yA. 

Figure  172  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

134.  Opuntia  pottsii  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.   236.    1850. 

opuntia  jilipendula  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  294.  1856. 
Low,  spreading  plant,  3  dm.  high  or  less,  from  thickened  tuberous  roots  2  to  3  cm.  in  diameter,  these 
sometimes  moniliform;  joints  broadly  obovate,  3.5  to  12  cm.  long,  pale  green  to  bluish;  areoles  few. 
either  small  or  large;  spines  confined  to  the  upper  and  marginal  areoles,  1  or  2,  slender,  2  to  4  cm.  long, 
usually  white  but  sometimes  purplish;  glochids  yellow,  usually  few  but  sometimes  abundant;  flowers 
large,  6  to  7  cm.  broad,  deep  purple;  ovary  slender,  3  to  3.5  cm.  long,  with  only  a  few  scattered  areoles; 
fruit  spineless. 

Type  locality:  Near  Chihuahua  City,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Central  Chihuahua,  Mexico,  to  Texas  and  New  Mexico. 

This  species  was  described  by  Prince  Salm-Dyck  in  1850  from  material  collected  by 
John  Potts,  who  was  manager  of  the  mint  at  Chihuahua  and  who  sent  many  cacti  to  F. 
Scheer  at  Kew  between  1842  and  1850.    No  types  of  his  species  seem  to  have  been  retained. 


138 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


In  1885  C.  G.  Pringle  again  collected  this  species  near  Chihuahua  City  and  it  was  dis- 
tributed as  O.  filipendula.  and  there  Coulter  leaves  Pringle's  specimen  (Cont.  Nat.  Herb. 
3:  428).  Dr.  E.  Palmer  collected  an  abundance  of  material  in  1908  which  enabled  us  to 
reestablish  O.  pottsii.   which  Coulter  omits  and  Schumann  lists  under  unknown  species. 

If  these  Chihuahua  specimens  are  the  same  as  the  Texas  plants,  as  Coulter  believed  and 
as  we  regard  them,  then  Opuntia  filipendula  must  give  place  to  the  older  name  of  Salm-Dyck. 

Illustrations:  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  68;  Forster  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  f.  10,  131;  Suppl. 
Diet.  Card.  Nicholson  2:  f.  605;  W.  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  f.  81;  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  ed.  3-  f. 
58;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  4:  580  f.  49;  all  as  Opuntia  filipendula. 

Figure  173  shows  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  in  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande 
below  El  Paso,  Texas,  in  1913. 

135.   Opuntia  setispina  Engelmann  in  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  239.    1850. 

Stem  branchint;  .ind  spreading,  sometimes  9  to  12  dm.  bro.id,  with  some  of  the  branches  composed 
of  3  or  4  jomts,  erect  and  6  dm.  high;  joints  deep  bluish  green,  somewhat  glaucous,  often  purplish  at 
the  areoies,  sometimes  more  or  less  tinged  with  purple  throughout,  obovate  to  orbicular,  "i  to  1  5  cm.  in 
diameter;  leaves  minute,  subulate;  spines  1  to  6  from  an  areole,  white,  2  to  3  cm.  long;  glochids  yellow, 
very  conspicuous  on  old  joints;  flowers  yellow;  fruit  purplish,  about  4  cm.  long. 


Fig.   173. — Opuntia  pottsii.    x  0.4. 


Fig.   174. — Opuntia  setispina.    x  0.4. 


T^pe  locality:  Pine  woods  in  the  mountains  west  of  Chihuahua,  Mexico  {\\de  Engel- 
mann, Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  294.    1856). 

Distribution:    Western  Chihuahua,  Mexico. 

This  species  has  long  been  known  only  from  the  type  specimens;  but  in  1908  Dr.  Rose 
visited  western  Chihuahua,  where  this  species  is  quite  common;  our  description  is  based 
largely  upon  the  specimens  he  then  collected. 

Figure  174  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Miiiaca,  Chihua- 
hua, in  1908. 

136.   Opuntia  mackensenii  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  13:  310.   1911. 

Plants  low,  with  thick,  tuberous  roots,  spreading,  usually  resting  on  the  edges  of  the  joints,  but  some 
of  the  branches  often  erect;  joints  orbicular  to  obovate,  10  to  20  cm.  long,  rarely  broader  than  long,  pale 
and  glaucous  when  young,  deep  green  when  older;  areoies  small,  the  lower  ones  without  spines,  the  upper 
ones  with  1  to  4  spines;  spines  white  or  brown,  or  brown  at  base  and  white  above,  somewhat  flattened 
and  twisted,  slender,  5  cm.  long  or  less;  glochids  brown;  flowers  of  medium  size,  7  to  8  cm.  broad, 
yellow  with  a  reddish  brown  center;  stigma-lobes  7  to  9,  white;  fruit  spineless,  4  to  6  cm.  long,  truncate 
or  nearly  so  at  apex,  rose-purple;  seeds  suborbicular.  5  to  6  mm.  broad,  acute  on  the  margin. 


OPUNTIA  139 

Type  locality:  Near  Kerrville,  Texas. 
Distribution:   Kerr  County,  Texas. 

Illustrations:    Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb,  13:  pi.  67;  Plant  World  19:  142.  f.  1;  143.  f.  2, 
the  last  as  O.  iiiacrorhiza. 

Figure  IT'S  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant  from  near  Kerrville,  Texas. 


Fig.   175,— Opumi.1  m.ickcn 


137.   Opuntia  tenuispina  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  294.    1856. 

Opunl'ui  minor  C.  Mueller  in  Walpers,  Ann.  Boi.  5:  50.  185S. 
Low  and  spreading,  but  becoming  3  dm.  high;  joints  obovate,  attenuace  ac  base.  7  to  15  cm.  long, 
light  green;  leaves  very  slender,  4  mm.  long  or  less;  spines  1  to  3  from  an  areole,  slender,  usually  white 
but  sometimes  brownish,  3  to  5  cm.  long,  the  upper  spines  erect  or  spreading ;  glochids  brown ;  flowers 
yellow,  6  to  7.5  cm.  broad;  ovary  with  numerous  areoles  filled  with  brown  wool  and  brown  glochids; 
fruit  oblong,  2.5  to  4  cm.  long,  with  a  deep  umbilicus;  seeds  4  mm.  broad  or  less,  very  irregular. 

Type  locality:    Sand  hills  near  El  Paso,  Texas. 

Distributio//:  Southwestern  Texas  and  adjacent  parts  of  Mexico  and  New  Mexico,  appar- 
ently extending  to  Arizona. 

Engelmann  says  that  this  plant  grows  with  O.  phaeacaiitha.  but  is  readily  distinguished 
from  the  latter  by  its  spines  and  fruit.  Cultivated  plants  and  herbarium  specimens  closely  re- 
semble O.  phaeacantha. 

Illustrations:    Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  75,  f.  14;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  78:  pi.  [15.] 

Plate  xxiii,  figure  3,  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  El  Paso, 
Texas,  in  1913. 

Series  11.    PHAEACANTHAE. 

Bushy  or  depressed  species,  with  relatively  large,  flat,  persistent  joints,  the  subulate,  usually  stout 
spines  brown  at  least  at  the  base,  or  in  some  species  nearly  white.  The  series  is  composed  of  about  hfteen 
species,  natives  of  the  .south  central  and  southwestern  United  States,  northern  and  central  Mexico. 


140 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


liddle  areoles. 


Key  to  Sphcies. 

or  less  bushy  plants. 

ints  thin;  spines,  when  present,  very  long  and  confined  to  the  upper 
Spines  dark  brown,  stout,  rigid. 

Plant  pale  green  to  purplish;  spines  up  to  12  cm.  long 138.   O.  macrocenira 

Plant  dull  dark  green;  spines  6  cm.  long  or  less 139.   O.tardospina 

Spines  pale  brown,  flexible  or  subulate. 

Usually    abundantly   spiny 140.  O.  gosseliniana 

Usually  spineless  or  some  areoles  with  1  setaceous  deflexed  spine 141.  O.  santa-rita 


Joints  thick;  spines 


nfined  to  the  upper  and  middle  areoles. 


Joints  relatively  small,  seldom  over  15  cm.  broad;  plants  relatively  low 

Joints  narrowly  obovate,  about  twice  as  long  as  wide 

Joints  broadly  obovate  to  orbicular. 
Flowers  yellow. 

Spines  subulate,  brown  at  least  in  part. 

Plant    light   green 143.   O. 

Plant  bluish  green  or  grayish  green. 

Plant  erect,  2  meters  high  or  less 144,   O. 

Plant  bushy,  rarely  over  1    meter  high - - --- 145.   O. 

Plant    prostrate 146.   O. 

Spines  acicular,  nearly  white 147.   O. 

Flowers  magenta 148.  O. 

Joints  relatively  large,  mostly  over  15  cm.  broad;  plants  relatively  tall. 

Spines  clear  brown  nearly  throughout 149.  O. 

Spines  nearly  white  above  or  throughout. 

Spines  with  dark  brown  bases 150.  O. 

Spines    whitish    throughout 151.   O. 

Small    creeping    plants 152.   O. 

138.  Opuntia  macrocentra  En- 

gelmann,    Proc.    Amer. 

Acad.  3:  292.  1856. 
Somewhat  bushy,  with  ascending 
branches,  6  to  9  dm.  high;  joints 
orbicular  to  oblong,  or  sometimes 
broader  than  long,  10  to  20  cm. 
long,  often  bluish  or  purphsh,  some- 
times spineless  but  usually  bearing 
spines  at  the  uppermost  areoles; 
spines  1  or  2,  rarely  3  together,  usu- 
ally brownish  or  black  but  some- 
times white  above,  slender,  erect  or 
porrect,  4  to  7  cm.  long;  flowers 
yellow,  often  drying  red,  7.5  cm. 
broad;  sepals  ovate,  acuminate; 
ovary  with  few  areoles,  these  bear- 
ing brown  glochids;  filaments  very 
short;  fruit  3  to  6  cm.  long,  pur- 
ple; seeds  4  to  4.5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Sand  hills  on 
the  Rio  Grande  near  El  Paso, 
Texas. 

Distribution :  Western 
Texas  to  Eastern  Arizona  and 
Chihuahua,  Mexico. 

This  species,  especially  the 
forms  that  have  bluish  and  pur- 
plish joints,  are  very  showy. 
Seedlings  sometimes  produce 
long,  silky  hairs  from  the  are- 
oles, in  this  respect  resembling 
the  Cri>/ifeiuie. 


142.   O.  ariKHitMa 


pliiieacantlia 
covillei 


engclmannii 

dhcata 

rastrera 


-Opunt 


macrocentra. 


141 


Illustrations:  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  7^,  f.  8;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  78:  pi.  [8]. 
Figure  176  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  the  Rio  Grande  in 
New  Mexico,  northwest  of  El  Paso,  Texas,  in  191.0. 

139.    Opuntia  tardospina  Gnfifiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Card.  22:  34.    1912. 

Roors  fibrous;  low,  spreading  plant,  the  joints  usually  resting  on  the  ground;  joints  orbicular  to 
obovate,  16  to  24  cm.  long;  areoles  large,  usually  distant,  often  4  cm.  apart;  spines  usually  wanting  ex- 
cept from  the  upper  areoles  and  along  the  upper  margin,  usually  single,  sometimes  2  from  an  areole,  4 
to  5  cm.  long,  brown,  but  lighter  towards  the  apex;  glochids  numerous,  brown,  persistent;  fruit  red,  6 
cm.  long;  seeds  5  mm.  broad,  acute  on  the  margin. 

Type  locality:    Near  Lampasas,  Texas. 
Distribution:    Eastern  Texas. 

Illustrations:   Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Card.  22:  pi.  11,  in  part;  pi.  15. 

Figure  177  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Albert  Rurh  in  1912,  north  of 
Dallas,  Texas. 


Fig.   177. — O.  tardospina.     xO.5.  FiGS.  178,  179. — Cluster  of  spines  and  joint  of  O.  gosseli 


140.    Opuntia  gosseliniana  Weber,  Bull.  Soc.  Acclim.  France  49:  83.    1902. 

One  meter  or  more  high,  branching  from  the  base,  the  old  trunk  often  bearing  numerous,  long, 
acicular  spmes;  joints  usually  red  or  purplish,  usually  very  thin,  as  broad  as  or  broader  than  long,  some- 
times 2  dm.  broad;  lower  and  sometimes  all  the  areoles  without  spines;  spines  porrect  or  nearly  so,  gen- 
erally 1,  sometimes  2,  rarely  3  from  an  areole,  4  to  5  or  even  10  cm.  long,  brown,  usually  weak;  glo- 
chids brown,  numerous,  forming  on  old  joints  very  large  clusters;  fruit  4  cm.  long,  without  spines  but 
bearing  numerous  brown  glochids  at  the  areoles,  with  a  depressed  umbilicus. 

Type  locality.   Coast  of  Sonora  on  the  Gulf  of  California. 

Distribution:    Sonora  and  Lower  California,  Mexico. 

This  species  was  placed  tentatively  in  the  Pubescetitcs  by  Schumann,  although  always 
glabrous;  but  it  belongs  better  in  the  Phaeacanthae.  In  some  of  its  phases  it  resembles  0. 
i}iacr(JC(.iilra.   It  is  a  very  showy  species  and  worthy  of  a  place  in  any  collection. 

Illustrations:   Monatsschr.   Kakteenk.    17:69. 

Figure  179  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  at  Hermosillo  in  Sonora,  by  Rose, 
Standley,  and  Russell  in  1910;  figure  178  shows  a  cluster  of   spines  from   a  trunk  areole. 


142 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


141.  Opuntia  santa-rita  (Griffiths  and  Hare)  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  52:  195.   1908. 

Opiiiilia  chlorolica  santa-rita  Griffiths  and  Hare,  N.  Mex.  Agi.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  6l.       1906. 
Opuntia  shreieana  C.  Z.  Nelson,  Galesburg  Register,  July  20,  1915 

Compact  plant,  6  to  14  dm.  high,  with  a  very  short  trunk;  joints  orbicular  or  a  little  broader  than 
long,  bluish  green  but  deep  purple  about  the  areoles  and  margins;  areoles  1.5  cm.  apart,  bearing  numer- 
ous chestnut-brown  glochids  and  occasionally  a  brown  spine;  flowers  very  handsome,  deep  yellow,  6  to 
7  cm.  broad:  ovary  purple,  oblong. 

Type  locality :   Seiero  Mountains,  Arizona. 

Distribution:    Southeastern  Arizona. 

This  species  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  the  opuntias,  and  although  it  does  not 
grow  well  in  greenhouse  cultivation,  it  would  doubtless  Hourish  in  the  Southwest,  where  it 
could  be  given  conditions  similar  to  its  wild  surroundings. 

Ill ustrcit ions:  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  52:  pi.  15;  Plant  World  11'":  f.  6,  this  last  as  Opuntia 
chlorotiCii:  Journ.  Inter.  Card.  Club  3:  facing  page  5,  as  O.  chlorotica  santa-rita. 

Plate  XXIV,  figure  1,  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  of  a  plant  near 
Surritas,  Arizona,  in  1906. 


142. 


Opuntia    angustata    Engelmann, 
Acad.  3:  292.    1856. 


Proc.    Amer. 


Ascending  to  erect;  joints  narrow,  15  to  25  cm.  long, 
rounded  above,  gradually  narrowing  downward;  areoles  dis- 
tant, often  2.5  cm.  apart,  large,  oblong;  spines  sharply  angled, 
straw-colored  or  whitish  but  with  brown  bases,  2.5  to  3.5  cm. 
long;  glochids  brown;  fruit  obovoid,  2.5  to  .3  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Bottoms,  Bill  Williams  Fork, 
Arizona. 

Distribution:  Recorded   as   extending   from   New 
Mexico  to  California,  but  known  definitely  to  us  only    y^/'yA 
from  central  Arizona,  perhaps  extending  north  to  Utah.  ^  /   \ 

Engelmann's  Opuntia  angustata  was  based  on 
three  specimens,  one  from  New  Mexico,  one  from 
Arizona,  and  one  from  California.  He  stated  that  the 
first  and  last  were  prostrate,  while  the  second  was  erect. 
A  study  of  his  specimens  and  descriptions  indicates 
that  he  had  three  species  before  him.  The  first  is 
from  Zuni,  New  Mexico,  and  is  probably  Opuntia 
phaeacantha.  The  California  specimen  is  the  Opuntia 
magenta  Griffiths,  which  is  probably  the  same  as 
O.  vaseyi.  while  the  suberect  plant  from  the  bottom: 
of  the  Bill  Williams  River  we  have  allowed  to  stand 
for  O.  angustata.  Wooten  and  Standley  (Contr.  U.  S 
Nat.  Herb.  19:  447.  1915)  suggest  that  the  two  fruits 
illustrated  by  Engelmann  in  connection  with  this  species 
may  belong  to  two  species  of  Cylindropuntia. 

This  plant  was  first  collected  by  J.  M.  Bigelow,  February  4,  1854. 

Illustrations:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  7,  f.  3,  4. 

Figure  180  is  copied  from  figure  3  of  the  illustrations  above  cited. 

143.  Opuntia  atrispina  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  172.    1910. 

Usually  low  and  spreading,  sometimes  2  meters  in  diameter,  but  sometimes  the  central  branches 
nearly  erect  and  6  dm.  high;  joints  rather  small,  nearly  orbicular,  10  to  15  cm.  in  diameter,  light  green, 
sometimes  a  little  glaucous;  lower  areoles  spineless;  spines  from  the  upper  areoles  2  to  4,  the  principal 
ones  spreading,  flattened,  dark  brown,  almost  black  at  base,  much  lighter  above;  glcKhids  at  first  yellow 
or  yellowish,  but  soon  changing  to  brown;  flowers  described  .as  yellow,  changing  to  orange;  fruit  reddish 
purple. 


Opuntia  angustata. 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


PLATE  XXIV 


.         t' 


r^r^A. 


'-^43^ii,.iia(&et:il7?-'fc^^:^A 


11   ol    f^■^, ';/;.(  Jiu-.lt.. 


OPUNTIA.  143 

Type  locality:  Near  Devil's  River,  Texas. 

Distribution:    Type  locality  and  vicinity. 

This  plant  is  abundant  between  Del  Rio,  Texas,  and  Devil's  River,  being  one  of  the  two 
commonest  species  m  that  region. 

Illustrations:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  pi.  26,  in  part. 

Plate  XXV,  figure  i,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  the  plant  collected  near  Devil's  River, 
Texas,  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1913. 


*^4(«3*?  ,4],ji^ 


Fig.  181. — Opuntia  azurea,  Zacatecas,  Mexico 


144.  Opunda  azurea  Rose,  Contr..  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12: 
291.  1909. 
Compact,  upright,  with  a  single  trunk,  or  branching  from 
the  base  and  more  or  less  spreading;  joints  orbicular  to  obovate, 
10  to  15  cm.  in  diameter,  pale  bluish  green,  glaucous;  areoles 
about  2  cm.  apart,  the  lower  ones  spineless,  the  upper  ones  with 
1  to  3  rather  stout  spines ;  spines,  at  least  when  old,  almost 
black,  unequal,  the  longer  ones  2  to  3  cm.  long,  more  or  less 
reflexed;  glochids  numerous,  brown;  petals  3  cm.  long,  deep 
yellow,  with  crimson  claw,  but  in  age  pink  throughout;  filaments 
greenish  or  almost  white;  stigma-lobes  pale  green;  fruit  dull 
crimson,  subglobose  to  ovoid,  spineless,   truncate,   juicy,  edible. 

Type  locality:  Northeastern  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Zacatecas  and  probably  Durango. 

Illustrations:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  pi.  24;  also 
f.  .33. 

Figure  181  is  from  a  photograph  by  F.  E.  Lloyd  of 
the  type  plant;  figure  182  represents  joints  of  the  plant 
collected  by  Albert  de  Lautreppe  near  Zacatecas,  Mexico, 
in  1904. 


144  THE  CACTACEAE. 

145.  Opuntia  phaeacantha  Engelmann  in  Gray,  Mem.  Amer.  Acad.  4:  52.    1849. 

Opumia  phaeacatitha  brunnea  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  293.     1856. 

Opunthi  phat'MMiiha  major  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  293.      1856. 

Opuntia  phaeacantha  nigricans  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  293-     1856. 

Opuntia  camanchica  Engelmann   and   Bigelow,   Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  293.     1856. 

Opuntia  chihuahuensis  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  291.     1909. 

Opuntia  toumeyi  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  .^02.     1909. 

Opumia  blakeana  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  402.     1909. 

Opuntia  zuniensis   Griffiths,   Bull.   Torr.   Club   43:  86.     1916.  (From  the  description.) 

Low,  usually  prostrate,  with  some  branches  ascending;  joints  usually  longer  than  broad,  10  to  15  cm. 
long;  areoies  rather  remote,  the  lower  ones  often  spineless;  spines  1  to  4,  those  on  the  sides  of  the 
joints  more  or  less  reflexed,  somewhat  flattened,  usually  rather  stout,  brown,  sometimes  darker  at  base, 
or  often  nearly  white  throughout,  the  longer  ones  5  to  6  cm.  long;  glochids  numerous,  yellow  to  brown; 
flowers  5  cm.  broad,  yellow;  ovary  short;  fruit  30  to  35  mm.  long,  much  contracted  at  base. 

Ty[)e  locality:   About  Santa  Fe  and  on  the  Rio  Grande,  New  Mexico. 

Distribnt'tdti:   Texas  to  Arizona  and  Chihuahua. 

We  have  referred  to  Opuntia  phaeacantha  the  common  low,  bushy  Opuntia  with  small 
joints,  brown  spines,  and  yellow  flowers  of  the  Southwest;  we  formerly  regarded  it  as  com- 
posed of  several  species,  and  others  have  followed  our  lead;  but  we  are  unable  to  draw  any 
distinct  lines  after  a  study  of  much  additional  herbarium  and  greenhouse  material.  Dr.  Rose 
has  collected  a  large  series  of  specimens  from  the  Southwest,  especially  from  the  type  locali- 
ties, but  his  specimens  seem  to  bridge  over  differences  which  before  seemed  tangible;  cited 
differences  appear  to  be  racial  rather  than  specific. 

Opuntia  hldkeana,  which  is  found  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  one  would  expect  to 
be  different.  It  is  characterized  by  small  obovate  joints,  rather  short  spines,  small  yellow  flowers 
purple  at  center. 

Opuntia  chihuahuensis.  which  was  first  described  from  Mexican  specimens,  if  it  belongs 
here,  is  in  the  southern  range  of  O.  phaeacantha.  It,  too,  has  yellow  flowers  with  red  centers, 
rather  large  joints,  and  long,  slender  spines.  Mr.  Wooton  is  of  the  opinion  that  to  O.  chihua- 
huensis is  to  be  referred  the  common,  low,  brown  species  from  El  Paso,  which  includes  the 
specimens  of  G.  R.  Vasey,  which  Coulter  called  Opuntia  niesacantha  oplocarpa.  This  long- 
spined  form  extends  north  throughout  eastern  New  Mexico  to  southeastern  Colorado.  With 
the  latter  form  Mr.  Wooton  believes  Opuntia  camanchica  belongs.  If  we  take  this  broad  view 
of  the  limits  of  this  species  we  are  forced  to  include  Opuntia  toumeyi.  although  it  is  much 
larger  than  0.  blakeana,  and  was  considered  by  Dr.  Rose  to  be  different. 

Opuntia  niesacantha  sphaerocarpa  Wooton  and  Standley  (Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  19: 
446.    1915)  is  a  mistake,  0.  niesacantha  oplocarpa  being  intended. 

Opuntia  ruhrifolia  Engelmann  in  Coulter  (Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  424.  1896),  from 
St.  George,  Utah,  belongs  in  this  series  if  E.  W.  Nelson's  No.  156,  from  the  same  place 
has  been  properly  determined  as  such.  The  type  specimen  of  O.  ruhrijolia  has,  apparently, 
been  lost. 

The  following  varieties  of  Opuntia  camanchica  have  been  offered  by  Haage  and  Schmidt 
in  their  catalogues:  alhispina  (Trade  Seed  Cat.  104.  1911-1912);  orbicularis,  rubra,  and  sal- 
nionea  (all  in  Haupt-Verzeichnis  1908:  228.  1908).  Under  O.  camanchica  has  been  men- 
tioned also  variety  luteo-staminea  (Cat.  Darrah  Succ.  Manchester  53.    1908). 

Opuntia  eocarpa  Griffiths  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29:  11.  \9\6) ,  also  0.  recurvo- 
spina  Griffiths  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29:  12.  1916)  and  possibly  O.  superbospina 
Griffiths  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29:  13.  1916)  and  O.  cacsia  Griffiths  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc. 
Washington  29:  13.  1916)  are  of  this  relationship. 

Opuntia  microcarpa*  Engelmann  (Emory,  Mil.  Reconn.  158.  f.  7.  1848)  and  O.  violacea 
Engelmann  (Emory,  Mil.  Reconn.  158.  f.  8.  1848)  were  described  from  drawings  brought 
back  from  the  Southwest  by  W.  H.  Emory.    They  can  never  be  critically  identified,  but  are 

*  Since  the  above  was  written  Dr.  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  527)  has  published  a  detailed  account  of  this 
species,  which  he  regards  as  distinct;  it  inhabits  southern  Arizona. 


BRITTON   AND   ROSE 


PLATE   XXV 


:^^'-i.^  . 

i 

^ 

^ 

m 

'J 

■H 

^HA 

w 

^^ 

1  : 

Flowering  joints  of  Optmtui  atrispiiia.  2.    Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  phaeacaiitha. 

3.    Upper  part  of  joint  of  Opuntia  eiigehiiaiinii.   (All  three-auarters  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  145 

probably  of  this  relationship. 

Illustrations:  Engler  and  Prantl,  Pflanzenfam.  3"'':  1-   57,  C.  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed. 
2.  f.  141;  lUustr.  Fl.  2:  f.  2530;  ed.  2.  2:  f.  2989;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  9,  f.  1  to  5;  pi.  22,  f. 
12  to  15;  Wiener  Illustr.  Gartenz.  10:  f.  115,  all  as  Opiaitia  camamhka;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.  Bull.  78:  pi.  [7],  as  Opunt'ia  chihuahuensis;  Contr.  U.  S. 
Nat.  Herb.  12:  pi.  55,  as  Opuntia  blakeana;  Cact.  Mex.  Bound, 
pi.  75,  f.  9  to  13;  Deutsche  Giirt.    Zeit.   7:   447,   as   Opuntia 
canianchica:   Meehan's   Monthly    11:    57,   as    0.   phaeacantha 
major;  Shreve,  Veg.  Des.  Mt.  Range  pi.  5,  A,  as  O.  tounieyi; 
De  Laet,  Cat.  Gen.  f.  58. 

Plate  XXV,  figure  2,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant 
sent  from  Tucson,  Arizona,  in  1916,  by  Dr  MacDougal. 

146.  Opuntia  mojavensis  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3: 

293.     1856. 

Prostrate,  with  suborbicular  joints;  pulvini  remote,  with  large 
yellow  bristles;  spines  2  to  6,  stout  and  annulate,  acutely  angular  and 
compressed,  more  or  less  curved,  reddish  brown,  paler  toward  tip, 
2.5  to  6  cm.  long,  1  to  3  smaller,  slenderer,  pale  ones  added  below; 
fruit  oblong,  4.5  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  On  the  Mojave,  west  of  the  Colorado, 
California. 

Distribution :  Known  only 
from  the  type  locality. 

The  fragmentary  type  speci 
men  has  been  examined;  we  have 
been  unable  to  refer  any  other 
specimens  to  this  species,  which  is 
thus  very  imperfectly  understood. 

Illustration:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4: 
pi.  9,  f.  6  to  8. 

147.  Opuntia  coviilei  Britton  and 

Rose,  Smiths,  Misc.  Coll. 
50:  532.    1908. 

Ofiiiitu      nngjcjipj      Griffiths, 

Rep.    Mo.    But.    Card.    20: 

91.    1909. 
Op/ii/li.i   iniin.Ki   Griffiths.    Proc. 

Biol.   Soc.   Washingt,.n   27: 

27.       19N. 

Bushy  plants,  usually  growing  in 
dense  thickets;  joints  orbicular  to  obo- 
vate,  10  to  20  cm.  long  or  more,  pale 
green,  sometimes  purplish,  slightly 
glaucous;  areoles  2  to  4  cm.  ap.irt; 
spines  several  from  an  areole,  slender, 
unequal,  the  longest  ones  6  cm.  long, 
white  when  young,  brownish  when 
old ;  flowers  large,  yellow. 

Type  locality:  San  Bernardino, 
California. 

Distribution:    Interior 
of  southern  Califotnia. 

Opuntia  coviilei  and  O.  vaseyi  grow  in  the  same  valleys,   often   in  adjoining  colonies, 
and  while  hybrids  may  occur,  the  two  species  could  easily  be  distinguished.     When  growing 


valleys 


146 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


in  conjunction,  O.  covillei  is  considerably  taller,  has  joints  of  different  color,  and  has  yellow 
flowers.  It  has  doubtless  generally  passed  as  Opuntia  occidentcilis,  but  that  is  a  much  larger, 
stouter  plant,  with  strong,  more  or  less  flattened  spines,  and  is  common  along  the  coast. 

Figure  183  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  sent  by  Dr.  MacDougal  from  Elsinore,  Cali- 
fornia, in  1913;  figure  184  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  specimen  collected  by  Mr.  S.  B.  Parish 
from  near  the  type  locality  in  1916. 

148.  Opuntia  vaseyi  (Coulter)  Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  532.    1908. 

OpuNtJ.1  mcjM.iin'^i  Liieyi  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.Nat.  Herb.  3:  431.    1896. 
Optiiili.i  i./lmtu/iiti  r.iif)/  Schumann.  Gesamtb.   Kakteen  717.    1898. 
Upiniluhumijusj  i.ite)i  Heller,  Cat.  N.  Amer.  PI.  ed.  2.  8.    1900. 
Opuiil!^  magenhi  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.   Bot.  Gard.  19:  268.    1908. 
Opiinthiruhiflora  Davidson,   Bull.   South.   Calif.  Acad.  15:  53.    1916. 
Plants  low,  the  lower  stems  spreading  at  base,   but  some  of  the  branches  erect  and  4  to  7  joints 
high;  joints  thick,  small    (usually   10  to   12  cm.   long),  ovate,  pale  green,  somewhat  glaucous;   areoles 
rather  large,   2   to  3  cm.   apart,  bearing   1   to   3  spines;  spines  porrect,  usually  short  (rarely  2  cm.  long) , 
grayish  brown  or  bright  brown,  whitish  or  yellowish  towards  the  tips,  somewhat  flattened ;  young  joints 
bright  green,   thickish,   bearing  short  purplish   leaves  and  a  single  brownish  spine  from  an  areole;  flowers 
deep  salmon,  almost  a  red-salmon,  from  the  very  first ;   ovary  globular   to   shortly  oblong ;    areoles    few, 
mostly  towards  the  top  of  the  ovary,  spineless  but  with  a  few  brown  glochids ;  fruit  globular  to  shortly 
oblong,  4  to   5   cm.   long,   deep  purple,   truncate  at  .ipex,  with  few  areoles,  the  pulp  sweetish  but  hardly 
edible;  umbilicus  broadly  depressed. 

Type  locality:  Cited  as  Yuma,  Arizona,  presumably  erroneously. 
Distribution:  San  Bernardino  and  Orange  Counties,  southern  California. 
Even  from  a  moving  train  this  species  is  distinguishable  from  its  relatives  by  the  color 
of  its  flowers.  It  forms  great  thickets  along  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  north  of  Los  An- 
geles, either  alone  or  interspersed  with  one  or  more  other  species,  and  it  is  also  common  in 
the  San  Bernardino  Valley  toward  the  Cajon  Pass  where  it  forms  great  thickets  either  alone 
or  with  OpHutia  covillei.  Considerable  quantities  were  seen  also  on  hills  near  Riverside,  and 
it  was  found  cultivated  in  the  cactus  garden  at  Riverside  and  in  the  Soldiers'  Home  Grounds 
at  Santa  Monica. 

lllustvcitio'u:    Bull.    South.    Clalif.  Acad.  15:  32,  as  Opuiitia  viihi- 

flofil. 

Figure   185   represents  a   joint  of  the  plant  collected  by   Dr. 
Rose  at  San  Fernando,  California,  in  1908. 

149.  Opuntia  occidentalis  Engelmann  and  Bigelow,  Proc.  Amer. 
Acad.  3:  291.   1856. 

Opuntia  lindheimeii  occidentalis  Coulter,   Contr.   U.   S.   Nat.   Herb.   3:    121 

1896. 
Opuntia  engelmannii   occidentalis   Engelmann 

Calif,  i:  248.  1876.* 
Opuntia  demissa  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  29.  1912. 
Erect  or  spreading,  often  1  meter  high  or  more,  forming  large  thickets ; 
joints  large,  obovate  to  oblong,  2  to  3  dm.  long;  areoles  remote;  spines  2  to  7, 
stout,  unec|ual,  the  longest  ones  4  to  5  cm.  long,  more  or  less  flattened, 
brown  or  nearly  white,  sometimes  wanting;  shorter  spines  often  white;  glo 
chids  often  prominent,  brown ;  flowers  yellow,  large,  including  the  ovary  often 
10  to  11  cm.  long;  fruit  large,  purple. 

Type  locality:  Western  slopes  of  the  California  Mountains,  be- 
tween San  Diego  and  Los  Angeles. 

Distribution:   Southwestern  California  and  northern  Lower  Cali- 
fornia and  adjacent  islands. 

In  their  description  of  this  species,  Engelmann  and  Bigelow  state  that  it  was  found  on 
the  western  slope  of  the  California  Mountains  near  San  Diego  and  Los  Angeles.  In  the 
Engelmann  herbarium  are  the  two  original  sheets.     One  of  these  comes  from  the  "Moun- 


Brewer   and    Watson.    Bo 


*  Coulter  refers  this  i 


Pac.  R.  Rep.  4 : 


is  published  there. 


OPUNTIA.  147 

tain  Valleys  of  San  Pasquel  and  Santa  Isabel,  "  northeast  of  San  Diego.  This  consists  of 
a  single  flower  and  a  small  piece  of  a  joint  containing  three  bunches  of  spines;  we  doubt  if 
this  can  be  identified.  The  other  comes  from  near  Los  Angeles  and  consists  of  a  large  pad 
and  fruit  with  seeds.  The  spines  are  dark 
brown  or  nearly  black.  This  specimen  ap- 
pears to  be  the  one  figured  in  the  Pacific 
Railroad  Report  and  may  very  properly  be 
taken  as  the  type  of  the  species. 

There  is  much  uncertainty  regarding 
the  range  of  this  species,  some  referring  it 
to  the  interior  valleys  of  California.  An  ex- 
amination, however,  of  the  type  material, 
and  a  study  of  the  living  plants  in  southern 
California  by  Dr.  Rose,  convince  us  that  the 
coastal  opuntias  can  not  all  be  referred  to 

0.  llttoraUs  as  is  sometimes  done,  but  a  part 
belongs  to  0.  occideutalis.  The  limits  of  the 
latter  species,  and  its  distribution,  are  not 
well  defined. 

Of  this  relationship  is  to  be  considered 
Opuntia  sem'tsp'nioia  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr. 
Club  43:  89.  1916),  which  the  author  de- 
scribes as  a  common,  conspicuous  species  in 
the  coastal  region  of  California. 

llluitrationr.  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta. 
Bull.  60:  pi.  3,  f.  2;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  7,  f. 

1,  2;  pi.  22,  f.  10;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Card.  22: 
pi.  8,  this  last  as  Opuntia  deniissa. 

Figure  186  is  from  a  plant  collected  on 
Santa  Catalina  Island,  California,  by  Mr.  S. 

B.  Parish  in   1916.  f"-    186. --Opuntia  ocadentali 


150.  Opuntia  engelmannii  Salm-Dyck  in  Engelmann,  Bost.  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.  6:  207.    1850. 

Opunti.1  tngiiniMiuit  c)cluJci  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  291.      1856. 

Opuntia  Undheimeri  cyclodes  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  422.      1896. 

Opuntia  dillei  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.   Bot.  Gard.   20:  82.     1909. 

Opuntia  arizonica  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  93.      1909. 

Opuntia  wootonii  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  171.     1910. 

Opuntia  cyclodes  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  13:  309.     1911. 

Opuntia  gregoriana  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  26.      1912. 

Opuntia  valida  Griffiths,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  27:  2  4.      1914. 

Opuntia  confusa  Griffiths,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  27:  28.      191-4. 

Opuntia  magnarenensis  Griffiths,  Proc,  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29:  9.      1916. 

Opuntia  expansa  Gniiiihs,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29:  14.      1916. 

Opuntia  engelmannii  ducata  C.  Z.  Nelson,  Trans.  111.  State  Acad.  Sci.  12:  124.  1919. 
Originally  described  as  erect  and  up  to  2  meters  high,  but  more  properly  a  widely  spreading  bush, 
usually  without  a  definite  trunk;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular,  2  to  3  dm.  long,  thick,  pale  green;  areoles 
distant,  becoming  large  and  bulging;  spines  usually  more  or  less  white,  with  dark  red  or  brownish 
bases  and  sometimes  with  black  tips,  usually  3  or  4,  sometimes  only  1,  or  entirely  wanting  from  the 
lower  areoles,  but  on  old  joints  10  or  more,  usually  somewhat  porrect  or  a  little  spreading,  but  never 
reflexed,  the  larger  ones  much  flattened,  the  longest  one  5  cm.  long;  leaves  subulate,  about  15  mm.  long; 
glochids  numerous,  brown  with  yellowish  tips;  flowers  large,  yellow,  fruit  3.5  to  4  cm.  long,  red; 
seeds  small,  3  to  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  From  El  Paso  to  Chihuahua. 

Distribution:    Chihuahua,  Durango,  Sonora,  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  Texas. 


148  THE  CACTACEAE. 

An  examination  of  the  plant  collected  by  Wislizenus  (No.  223)  north  of  Chihuahua, 
now  m  the  herbarium  of  the  Missouri  Botanical  Garden  and  labeled  by  Dr.  Engelmann  as 
O.  engehnanni'i  Salm-Dyck,  shows  that  this  species  is  of  Schumann's  series  Viilvispinosae 
(our  series  Phaeacauthcie)    rather  than  series  Tinnie. 

OpuHtiii  engelmannii  has  been  more  confused  than  any  other  species  of  Opiiutux. 
Salm-Dyck,  who  first  studied  the  species,  doubtless  had  but  a  single  specimen  before  him, 
and  this  or  a  duplicate  is  now  in  the  herbarium  of  the  Missouri  Botanical  Garden.  This 
type  specimen  came  from  near  Chihuahua  City,  from  which  place  Dr.  Rose  has  collected 
identical  material.  Dr.  Engelmann,  who  published  Salm-Dyck's  name,  described  the  plant  as 
erect  and  5  to  6  feet  high,  giving  its  range  from  Chihuahua  City  to  Texas.  These  remarks  of 
his  were  doubtless  based  on  notes  of  Dr.  Wislizenus,  who  collected  the  type,  and  must  have 
included  more  than  one  species;  as  Engelmann  says  it  is  both  cultivated  and  wild,  the  culti- 
vated plants  doubtless  referring  to  some  of  the  many  forms  grown  about  towns  and  ranches. 
In  1852  Engelmann  extends  the  distribution  of  the  species  westward  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
referring  especially  to  a  San  Diego  specimen.  In  1856  he  refers  here  his  previously  described 
species  O,  lindheimeri,  and  extends  the  range  eastward  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  and 
to  lower  Mexico.  Coulter  brought  all  this  material  together  under  O.  Itndhe'nneri  and  four 
varieties. 

An  examination  of  herbarium  and  greenhouse  specimens  shows  that  at  least  half  a  dozen 
species  have  been  passing  under  the  name  of  0.  DigeluiaiDi'ii.  While  certain  varieties  and 
specimens  are  evidently  to  be  excluded  from  the  species,  we  are  still  uncertain  as  to  its  spe- 
cific limits.  It  is  quite  common  about  Chihuahua  City  and  extends  to  Monterey  and  Saltillo 
or  is  represented  there  by  a  near  ally,  while  Mr.  E.  O.  Wooton  would  refer  here  plants  of 
southern  New  Mexico,  and  we  are  including  large,  bushy  opuntias  from  Arizona. 

Dr.  Rose  was  inclined  at  one  time  to  separate  the  Tucson  plant,  which  seems  to  have  some 
just  claims  for  specific  recognition,  but  there  is  a  mass  of  herbarium  material  which  seems  to 
connect  this  with  the  true  O.  engelmannii. 

Opuntia  engelmannii  monstrosa  (Cat.  Darrah  Succ.  Manchester  54.  1908)  is  doubtless 
one  of  the  abnormal  forms  so  common  among  the  flat-jointed  opuntias. 

Opuntia  cyclodes,  first  found  by  Bigelow  near  Anton  Chico,  New  Mexico,  is  certainly  of 
this  relationship.  The  characters  of  orbicular  joints,  of  small  fruit  and  of  stout,  usually  soli- 
tary spines,  originally  assigned  to  it,  are  not  constant,  for  it  often  has  obovate  to  oblong  joints 
bearing  as  many  as  four  slender  spines  and  large  fruit. 

In  1913,  Dr.  Rose  explored  the  upper  Pecos,  especially  about  Anton  Chico,  near  the  type 
locality,  where  he  collected  specimens  similar  to  the  Bigelow  plant,  but  these  grade  into  more 
spiny  forms,  some  bearing  as  many  as  five  spines  at  an  areole,  usually  yellow,  especially  dis- 
tally,  and  more  slender  than  in  typical  O.  engelmannii.  From  the  same  type  locality,  and  asso- 
ciated with  O.  cyclodes,  is  O.  expansa  Griffiths,  which  has  more  and  whiter  spines  than  the 
typical  form,  although  they  are  sometimes  yellowish  with  brown  bases.  O.  dillei  Griffiths  is 
also  related  to  O.  cyclodes.  but  the  spines  are  fewer;  Dr.  Griffiths  states,  however,  that  more 
spines  develop  on  cultivated  plants. 

Illustrations:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pl.  8,  f.  1;  pi.  22,  f.  8,  9,  all  as  Opuntia  engelmannii  cyclodes; 
Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pl.  4,  in  part,  as  Opuntia  dillei.  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  7, 
f.  1;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pl.  10;  Safford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1908:  pl.  10,  f.  3,  6,  all 
as  Opuntia  arizonica.  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  pl.  26,  in  part,  27,  both  as  Opuntia  wootonii. 
Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  pl.  3,  this  last  as  Opuntia  gregoriana.  Standley,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths. 
Inst.  1911:  pl.  2;  Bull.  Torr.  Club  32:  pl.  10,  f.  10  to  13;  Cact.  Journ.  2:  147;  Cact.  Mex. 
Bound,  pl.  75,  f.  1  to  4;  Cycl.  Amer.  Hort.  Bailey  3:  f.  1547;  Gard.  Chron  III.  30:  f.  123;  N. 
Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  78:  pl.  [5,  6];  Cact.  Journ.  1:  pl.  for  February;  2:  162,  as  Opuntia 
engelmannii  cristata;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  39:  148.  f.  58;  Plant  World  9'':  f.  49;  Shreve,  Veg. 
Des.  Mt.  Range  pl.  5,  B;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2601 ;  Scientific  Month.  17:  70,  71,  72. 


OPUNTIA.  149 

Plate  XXV,  figure  3,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  sent  from  Arizona  by  Dr.  Mac- 
Dougal  in  1902.  " 

151.  Opuntia  discata  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  266.    1908. 

OpuntiA  aihfsctns  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  87.      1909. 
Opiinlij  ripari.,  GiilHths,   Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington   27:  26.      1914. 

Plants  bushy,  spreading,  sometimes  15  dm.  high;  joints  thick,  obicular  to  broadly  obovate,  2.5 
dm.  in  diameter  or  less,  pale  bluish  green,  somewhat  glaucous;  areoles  rather  few,  distant,  in  age 
becoming  very  large,  hemispheric,  filled  with  short  brown  wool;  spines  usually  2  to  4,  sometimes  7 
or  more  in  old  areoles,  2  cm.  long  or  more,  grayish  with  dark  bases,  somewhat  flattened;  flowers  large, 
9  to  10  cm.  broad,  light  yellow,  darker  near  the  center;  style  white;  stigma-lobes  green;  fruit  magenta, 
pyriform,  6  to  7  cm.  long, 

T^ype  locality:   Foothills  of  Santa  Rita  Mountains,  Arizona. 

Distr'ibut'i<»r.    Foothills  and  high  mesas  of  southern  Arizona  and  northern  Sonora. 

lllustratiuin:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi. 2,  f.  5;  pi.  7;  pi.  13,  f.  6,  all  as  Opuntia  gil- 
vesceris;  Amer.  Garden  II:  469,  this  last  as  Opuntia  angustata.  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull. 
67:  pi.  1,  f.  2;  Bull.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:  pi.  3.  f.  2;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  pi.  27,  in  part; 
Carnegie  Inst.  Wash.  269:  pi.  10,  L  87. 

Plate  xxiv,  figure  2,  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  in  the  Tortolita 
Mountains,  Arizona,  in  1916;  Opuntia  discata  is  the  plant  shown  in  left  foreground. 

152.  Opuntia  rastrera  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  896.   1898. 

?Opunt'ui  Ulceus  Griffiths,   Rep.  Mo.   Bot.   Gard.   19:   269.      1908. 

Creeping  plant;  joints  circular  to  obovate,  the  largest  2  dm.  in  diameter;  spines  white,  several 
from  an   areole,  the  longest  4  cm.   long;  glochids  yellow;  flowers  yellow;   fruit  purple,  acid,  obovoid. 

Type  locality:   San  Luis  Potosi,  Mexico. 

Distribution:   The  type  locality  and  vicinity. 

This  species  was  very  briefly  described  in  1898  by  Dr.  Weber,  who  states  that  it  is 
quite  distinct  from  O.  tuna,  the  Jamaican  species.  Schumann,  who  treats  it  in  a  note  under 
0.  tuna,  states  that  it  is  a  well-dififerentiated  species  from  Mexico. 

From  descriptions  we  are  referring  here  O.  lucens  Griffiths,  also  described  from  San  Luis 
Potosi  specimens.  Dr.  Griffiths  states  that  his  O.  lucens  is  related  to  0.  engehnannii.  but  has 
a  different  habit;  he  says  it  is  called  cuija  by  the  Mexicans,  but  that  it  is  very  different  from 
Opuntia  cuija. 

Series  12.  ELATIORES. 
Tall  species,   with  flat,  broad,  persistent  joints,   the  areoles  bearing  acicular,  setaceous,  or  subulate 
brown  spines,  or  some  species  spineless.    We  know  about  twelve  species,  most  of  them  South  American, 
with  one  in  Florida    (see  Appendix  p.   222),  possibly  one  (O.  jtiUginosa)  in  Mexico. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES. 

Joints  very  spiny. 

Spines  not  banded. 

Areoles  surrounded  by  a  purple  blotch 153.  O.  biunnescens 

Areoles  not  surrounded  by  a  purple  blotch. 

Spines  setaceous;  petals  yellow , , 154.  O.  galcipagei.i 

Spines,  when  present,  acicular  or  subulate;  petals  mostly  red  or  orange. 

Joints  strongly  undulate;  spines  short,  stout 155.  O.  delaetianit 

Joints  not  undulate  or  scarcely  undulate. 

Joints  bluish  green,  glaucous 156.  O.  heigeriana 

Joints  bright  green,  not  glaucous  or  slightly  glaucous. 
Spines,  at  least  on  young  joints,  acicular,  slender. 

Spines,  when  present,  dark  brown  or  blackish;  joints  dull l'>7.  O.  tLil/or 

Spines  light  brown  to  straw-colored. 

Spines  up  to  5  cm.  long;  joints  shining I'li.  O.  Ihiiihiirycina 

Spines  3  cm.  long  or  less;  joints  dull. 

Flowers    12   to    15   mm.   wide;   spines    1    to   4   at   an   areole   or 

wanting 1  59.  O.  i/»i!ensis 

Flowers  5  to  6  cm.  wide;  spines  up  to  10  at  an  areole 159.'.  O.  soedentromhina 

Spines  subulate,  stout;  joints  shining \6l).  O.  ic/}Hma>!>iii 

Spines  acicular;  petals  yellow;  joints  shining  [in  this  series?] __.    \(-<\.  O.  fidigiiiosa 

Spines  distinctly  banded;  joints  dark  green,  obscurely  glaucous \6\a.  O.zebrina 

Joints  usually  spineless. 

Bushy,   1   to  2  meters  high;  flowers  rose 162.0.  boldinghii 

Erect,  3  to  4  meters  high;  flowers  orange-red l(-,}i.O.  dhtans 


150 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


153.  Opuntia  brunnescens  sp.  nov. 

Usually  low  and  prostrate,  sometimes  1  meter  liigh,  without  a  definite  trunk,  usually  forming  a 
bushy  clump;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular,  15  to  30  cm.  long,  smooth,  dull  green,  except  the  purple 
blotches  about  the  prominent  areoles;  spines  2  to  5,  brownish,  porrect  or  pointing  forward,  up  to  4.5 
cm.  long,  stout,  sometimes  twisted. 

Hills  about  the  city  of  Cordoba,  Argentina,  where  it  was  collected  by  Rose  and  Russell, 
September  8,  1913  (No.  21029). 

This  species  is  very  common  on  the  dry  hills  about  (Cordoba,  where  it  is  often  associated 
with  Opuntia  sulphured.    It  apparently  extends  northward  into  Jujuy. 

Figure  187  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited;  figure  188  shows  its 
fruit  collected  by  Dr.  Shafer  (No.  78) . 

154.  Opuntia  galapageia  Henslow,  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.  1:  467.    1837. 

opuntia  myiacjntha  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  894.      1898. 

Opuntia  helleri  Schumann  in  Robinson,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  38:   180.      1902. 

Opuntia  insuLiis  Stewart,  Proc.  Calif.  Acad.  IV.  1:  113.     1911. 

Sometimes  low  and  creeping,  but  often  becoming  very  large,  5  to  10  meters  high,  with  a  large  top 
either  open  or  very  compact  and  rounded;  trunk  at  first  very  spiny  and  made  up  of  flat  joints  set 
end  to  end,  with  the  short  axis  of  each  joint  at  right  angles  to  that  of  the  adjacent  joint,  in  time 
becoming  terete,  and  when  old  nearly  naked,  3  to  13  dm.  in  diameter;  bark  of  old  trunks  smooth, 
brown,  peeling  off  in  thin  layers;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular,  usually  very  large,  1.5  to  35  dm.  long, 
very  spiny;  areoles  large,  often  prominent  on  the  trunk,  there  especially  forming  knobs  bearing  numer- 
erous  spines ;  spines  extremely  variable,  but  nearly  all  yellowish  brown ;  areoles  on  young,  vigorous  plants 
very  stout  and  rigid,  very  unequal,  the  longest  7  to  8  cm.  long;  joints  of  old  plants  bearing  more  or 
less  pungent  bristles  or  sometimes  very  weak  soft  hairs  instead  of  spines,  while  the  spines  from  the 
trunks  often  are  very  stout  and  sometimes  40  in  a  cluster;  flowers  yellow,  7.5  cm.  broad;  ovary  more 
or  less  tuberculate;  fruit  greenish,  sometimes  borne  in  the  ends  of  joints,  more  or  less  spiny;  seeds  large, 
5  to  6  mm.  broad,  white,  covered  with  soft  hairs. 

Type  locality:   Galapagos  Islands. 


Fig.  187. — O.  brunnescens 


nescens.      X0.9. 


-Flower  of  same.         Fig.  189 — Joint  of 
X0.75  O.  galapageia. 


Distribution:   Very  common,  often  forming  forests,  on  the  Galapagos  Islands. 

We  have  here  combined  the  four  species  reported  from  the  Galapagos  Islands,  while 
Alban  Stewart,  in  his  admirable  paper  on  the  botany  of  these  islands,  not  only  recognizes 
four  species,  but  describes  a  fifth  without  specific   name.      He   also  has   fourteen   full-page 


OPUNTIA.  151 

illustrations  showing  fine  habit  views  of  the  Galapagos  Opuntia.  The  early  descriptions  of 
this  species  were  very  inaccurate  and,  as  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Stewart,  the  characters  assigned  to 
its  fruit  are  those  of  a  Cereus-like  plant.  Mr.  Stewart  visited  the  Galapagos  Islands  in  1905- 
1906  and  brought  back  a  remarkable  series  of  photographs  and  specimens.  Through  the  kind- 
ness of  Miss  Alice  Eastwood,  Curator  of  Botany  in  the  California  Academy  of  Sciences,  we 
have  been  able  to  study  this  material.  It  consists  of  about  forty  sheets  of  well-preserved  joints 
with  a  few  flowers  and  fruits.  These,  in  connection  with  the  published   illustrations,  show  a 


great  range  of  variation  in  habit,  armament  of  joints,  and  character  of  spines.  While  these 
differences  are  very  marked,  they  are  similar  to  what  is  sometimes  met  with  in  other  opuntias, 
such  as  O.  gosseliniana  and  O.  leucotricha,  or  in  certain  Peruvian  and  Chilean  types  of  Cereiis 
relatives;  indeed,  in  a  number  of  cacti  which  live  under  intense  desert  influences,  most  diverse 
forms  in  the  same  species  are  often  produced.  The  habit-character  in  this  species  seems  to  be 
of  little  value,  according  to  Mr.  Stewart  himself,  for  he  calls  attention  to  procumbent  and 


152 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


arborescent  forms  of  O.  galapageia,  while  the  greatest  range  of  spine  characters  is  shown 
between  the  young  plants  and  old  ones  and  between  the  trunk  and  the  joints.  The  specimen 
which  Mr.  Stewart  has  made  the  type  of  his  Opunt'ia  nniilaris  is  quite  different  from  all  the 
others,  and  yet  one  can  easily  believe  that  intergrades  could  be  found;  his  species  is  described 
without  flowers  or  fruit.  Mr.  Stewart  states  that  this  Opuntia  forms  the  principal  article  of 
food  for  the  Galapagos  land  tortoise.  Its  trunk  becomes  thicker  than  that  of  any  other  known 
species  of  the  genus. 

lllustyatiuns:  Gard.  Chron.  III.  24:  f.  75;  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.  1:  pi.  14,  f.  2;  Proc.  Calif. 
Acad.  IV.  1:  pi.  7,  f.  2;  pi.  8;  9,  f.  2;  pi.  10  to  12.  Gard.  Chron.  Ser.  III.  27:  f.  56;  Proc. 
Calif.  Acad.  IV.  1:  pi.  7,  f.  1;  pi.  13,  f.  2;  pi.  16  to  18,  all  as  Opuntta  viyiacantha.  Proc. 
Calif.  Acad.  IV.  1:  pi.  15,  f.  1;  pi.  14,  the  last  two  as  Opuntia  helleri.  Proc.  Calif.  Acad. 
IV.  1:  pi.  9,  f.  1;  pi.  15,  the  last  two  as  Opuntia  insularis. 

Figure  189  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Robert  £.  Snodgrass  and  Edmund 
Heller  on  Wenman  Island,  Galapagos,  on  the  Hopkins-Stanford  Expedition  (type  of  Opuntia 
helleri  Schumann),  drawn  from  the  herbarium  specimen  in  the  Gray  Herbarium;  figure  190 
is  a  flower  of  the  same  plant;  figure  191  is  from  a  photograph  of  an  herbarium  specimen 
collected  by  Alban  Stewart. 

155.  Opuntia  delaetiana  Weber  in  Vaupel,  Bliihende  Kakteen  3:  pi.  148.    1913. 

opuntia  elata  delaetiana  Webet  in  Gosselin,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Pans  10:  392.     190  1. 

Joints  oblong,  25  cm.  long,  8  cm.  broad,  bright  green,  at  first  thin  and  spineless,  the  margin 
strongly  undulate;  areoles  large,  bearing  3  to  5  straight,  rose-colored  or  yellowish  brown  spines  up  to 
4  cm.  long;  leaves  subulate,  about  4  mm.  long;  glochids  wanting  in  young  areoles,  later  appearing 
numerous  and  brown;  flower-buds  rounded  at  the  apex;  outer  sepals  orbicular,  obtuse,  red;  flower 
rotate,  5  to  7  cm.  broad,  orange-colored;  stigma-lobes  white;  fruit  oblong  or  pyriform,  red,  5  to  7 
cm.  long,  3  to  5  cm.  in  thickness. 

T]pe  locality:  Paraguay. 

Distribution:  Paraguay  and  northeastern  Ar- 
gentina. 

The  plant  was  collected  by  Dr.  Thomas  Morong 
at  Asuncion,  Paraguay,  in  1888,  and  referred  in  his 
list  of  plants  collected  in  Paraguay  (Annal.  N.  Y. 
Acad.  Sci.  7:  121.  1892)  to  0.  nigricans  Haworth; 
Dr.  Shafer  found  it  in  1917  in  waste  places  and  in 
hedge-rows  about  Concordia  and  Posados,  Argen- 
tina. This  species  may  more  properly  belong  in  our 
series  Elatae  than  in  Elatiores. 

Illustration:  Bliihende  Kakteen  3:  pi.   148. 

Figure  192  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above 
cited. 

i56.  Opuntia  bergeriana  Weber  in  Berger,  Gard. 
Chron.  III.  35:  34.   1904. 

Growing  singly  or  in  dense  thickets,  often  1  to  3.5 
meters  high  and  having  a  trunk  3  to  4  dm.  in  diameter, 
with  a  large,  spreading  top,  or  clambering  over  walls 
and  rocks;  joints  narrowly  oblong,  sometimes  2.5  cm.  long, 
when  young  often  quite  narrow,  bright  green,  but  becoming 
dull  and  somewhat  glaucous;  areoles  rather  distant,  on  old  joints  2  to  4  cm.  apart,  filled  with  short 
gray  wool ;  spines  2  or  3,  rarely  5,  unequal,  the  longest  one  3  to  4  cm.  long  and  somewhat  flattened, 
more  or  less  brownish  at  base,  sometimes  yellowish,  porrect,  or  somewhat  turned  downward;  leaves  2 
to  3  mm.  long,  fugacious;  glochids  yellow  but  sometimes  turning  brown,  rather  prominent,  forming 
a  half  circle  in  the  upper  part  of  the  areolc;  areoles  circular,  when  young  filled  with  light  brown 
wool   in  the  center  and  white  in  the  outer  region;    flowers    numerous,   showy,    deep   red;   some    joints 


192.— Op 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


PLATE    XXVI 


1.  Flowering  joint  of  Opimti.t  bergenjiia.  3.     Flowennt;  joint  of  Opinitut  boldinghii. 

2.  Floweriny  joint  of  Opinilu  elitior.  4,  5.    Joints  of  Opniitta  elata. 

(All  three-fourths  size) 


OPUNTIA.  153 

bearing  20  or  more;  petals  2.5  cm.  long,  mucronate;  filaments  numerous,  scarlet-rose;  stigma-lobes  6, 
green;  fruit  small,   3  to  4  cm.   long,  red,  not  edible;  seeds  few,  flattened,  5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   Described  from  cultivated  specimens. 

Distribution:  Not  known  in  the  wild  state,  but  now  very  common  on  the  Riviera, 
northern  Italy,  forming  large  thickets. 

Mr.  Berger  would  place  this  species  next  to  O.  >iigricans,  which  we  now  call  O.  elatior. 
This  species  was  named  for  Alvvin  Berger,  formerly  curator  of  the  Hanbury  Garden  at  La 
Mortola,  Italy,  who  sent  material  to  the  late  Dr.  Weber,  from  which  the  species  was  de- 
scribed. The  species  is  quite  common  on  the  Riviera  and  has  run  wild  in  many  places, 
especially  about  Bordighera,  Italy.  It  produces  a  great  abundance  of  flowers  in  May,  but 
blooms  more  or  less  throughout  the  year. 

Opuntia  ledieuii    (Berger,   Hort.   Mortol.  233.  1912),  unpublished,  is  referred  here. 

Illustrations:  Gard.  Chron.  III.  35:  f.  14;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  16:  136;  Gartenwelt 
II:  75. 

Plate  XXVI,  figure  1,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  sent  from  La  Mortola, 
Italy,  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  in  1906. 

157.  Opuntia  elatior  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  4.   1768. 

Cactus    nigricans    Haworth,    Misc.    Nat.    187.     1803. 

Opuntia  nigricans  Haworth.  Syn.  PI.  Succ.   189.      1812. 

Cactus  elatior  Wildennw,  Enum.  Hon.  Berol.  Suppl.   34.      1813. 

Cactus  tuna  nigricans  Sims,   Curtis's   Bet.   Mag.  38:  pi.   1557.      1813. 

Cactus  tuna  elatior  Sims.  Curtis's  Hot.  Mag.  38:  under  pi.  1557.      1813. 

Cactus    pseudococcinellijer    Bertoloni,   Excerpta    Herb.  Bonon.  II.      1820. 

Plants  densely  bushy-branched,  up  to  5  meters  high;  joints  obovate  to  oblong  or  suborbicular,  olive- 
green,  1  to  2  dm.  or  even  4  dm.  long ;  leaves  4  mm.  long,  green  with  reddish  tips ;  areoles  2  to 
4  cm.  apart;  spines  2  to  8,  acicular,  mostly  terete,  dark  brown,  2  to  4  cm.  or  even  7  cm.  long;  flowers 
about  5  cm.  broad ;  petals  dark  yellow  striped  with  red  or  sometimes  salmon-rose,  with  mucronate  tips ; 
filaments  numerous,  pink  or  red;  style  nearly  white;  stigma-lobes  5,  green;  ovary  ovoid,  deeply  umbili- 
cate,  its  areoles  either  with  or  without  spines;  fruit  obovoid,  truncate  when  mature,  reddish,  the  pulp 
dark  red;  seeds  about  4  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:  Unknown. 

Distribution:  Common  or  frequent  in  Curacao,  Venezuela,  Colombia,  and  Panama,  es- 
caped from  cultivation  in  Australia.  O  nigricans  has  been  referred  to  Mexico,  but  doubtless 
wrongly,  unless  cultivated  there.  Plants  brought  by  Dr.  Howe  from  Tobogilla  Island,  Pan- 
ama, have  narrowly  obovate  joints. 

The  early  history  of  this  species  and  its  various  synonyms  are  rather  confusing.  Dil- 
lenius  figured  Opuntia  elatior  and  this  name  was  taken  up  by  Miller  in  1768.  There  is 
some  doubt  as  to  its  native  home,  but  it  probably  came  from  northern  South  America,  or 
possibly  Curacao.  Opuntia  nigricans,  also  referred  here,  was  described  by  Haworth  from 
cultivated  specimens;  plate  1557  of  Curtis's  Botanical  Magazine  was  made  from  Haworth's 
specimen  and  may  be  considered  typical. 

Introduced  into  cultivation  in  Europe  about  1793. 

Illustrations:  Loudon,  Encycl.  pi.  ed.  3  f.  6877,  as  Cactus  elatior:  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag. 
38:  pi.  1557,  this  last  as  Cactus  tuna  nigricans:  Dillenius,  Hort.  Elth.  pi.  294.  this  as  Tuna 
elatior,  etc.;  Agr.  Gaz.  N.  S.  "W.  23:  pi.  opp.  208;  pi.  opp.  210,  both  these  as  Opuntia  nigri- 
cans: Journ.  Hort.  Home  Farm.  III.  60:  30,  this  as  Opuntia  occidentalis:  Loudon,  Encycl.  pi. 
ed.  3.  411.  f.  6879,  as  Cactus  nigricans. 

Plate  XXVI,  figure  2,  shows  a  flowering  joint  of  a  specimen  obtained  by  Dr.  Britton  and 
Dr.  Shafer  in  Curacao  in  1913. 

158.  Opuntia  hanburyana  Weber  in  Berger,  Gard.  Chron.  III.  35:  34.    1904. 

Bushy,  1  to  2  meters  high,  somewhat  straggling;  joints  narrowly  oblong,  about  3  dm.  long,  bright 
green;  leaves  subulate,  4  to  5  mm.  long;  areoles  closely  set,  filled  with  brown  or  blackish  wool; 
spines  several,  spreading,  acicular,  somewhat  flattened  and  twisted,  yellowish  brown,  the  longest  3  cm. 
long;   flowers  widely  spreading,   rather  small;   fruit  small. 


154 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Type  locality.    Described  from  cultivated  plants. 

Distribution:  Not  known  in  the  wild  state. 

The  species  commemorates  Sir  Thomas   Hanbury,   who,   through  his   extensive  garden 
at  La  Mortola,  Italy,  contributed  much  to  botany  and  horticulture. 

Illustration:  Gard.  Chron.  III.  35:  t.  15. 

Figure  193  represents  joints  of  the  plant  sent  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1913. 
159.  Opuntia  quitensis  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  894,    1898. 

Bushy,  sometimes  2  meters  high;  joints  obovate,  1  to  4  dm.  long,  8  to  9  cm.  broad;  areoles 
small,  distant,  2  cm.  apart,  bearing  some  white  tomentum  and  short  glochids;  spines  wanting,  or  1 
ro  3,  sometimes  as  many  as  4  on  old  joints,  straight,  yellowish 
brown,  or  nearly  white  when  young,  acicular,  somewhat  flexuous, 
2  to  3  cm.  long;  leaves  green,  minute,  acute;  flowers  red,  12  to 
15  mm.  broad;  petals  erect,  obtuse;  anthers  white;  style  white, 
short  and  thick;  stigma-lobes  13,  white,  about  as  long  as  the  style; 
fruit  obovoid,  red,  nearly  spineless,  about  2  cm.  long;  seeds  about 


Type  locality:  Near  Quito,  Ecuador. 

Distribution:  Ecuador. 

As  observed  by  Dr.  Rose  in  Ecuador  in  1918,  this  species  is  very  variable  in  habit, 
for  when  grown  in  the  open  it  is  low  and  bushy  with  rather  small  joints,  but  when  grow- 
ing in  thickets  it  becomes  tall  and  has  large  joints.  About  Huigra,  where  it  is  very  com- 
mon, it  is  often  spineless,  and  when  the  spines  ate  present  they  are  few  and  weak.  In 
southern  Ecuador  there  is  a  plant  which  has  small,  red  flowers  like  this  species,  but  the 
joints  have  stout  subulate  spines. 

Figure  194  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  in  1901  for  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden  from  M.  Simon,  of  St.  Ouen,  Paris,    France. 

159a.  Opuntia  soederstromiana  sp.  nov.    (See  Appendix,  p.  221.) 


OPUNTIA.  155 

160.  Opuntia  schumannii  Weber  in  Berger,  Gard.  Chron.  III.  35:  34.   1904. 

Bushy,  1  to  2  meters  high;  joints  obovate  to  oblong,  1.5  to  2.5  cm.  long,  dull  dark  green;  areoles 
distant,  medium  .sized;  spines  2  to  10,  slightly  spreading,  very  unequal,  the  longest  ones,  4.5  cm.  long, 
more  or  less  twisted,  flattened,  dark  brown;  glochids  few,  soon  disappearing;  flowers  6  cm.  long,  yel- 
lowish to  orange,  turning  in  age  to  dull  red;  ovary  tuberculate,  spineless,  deeply  umbilicate;  fruit  dark 
purple,  turgid,  juicy,  deeply  umbilicate,   5  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:    Not  cited. 

Distributio)!-.  Northern  South  America;  sometimes  assigned  to  Argentina. 

Opuntia  schumannii  is  described  by  Berger  as  being  intermediate  between  Opuntia  and 
Nopalea,  and  according  to  him,  it  has  long  stamens  and  upright  petals;  otherwise  it  has 
little  in  common  with  Nopalea;  a  plant  from  Santa  Clara,  Colombia,  which  agrees  with  plants 
of  O.  schumannii  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  has  a  normal  Opuntia  flower. 

Illustration:  Gard.  Chron.  III.   35:  f.  16. 

Plate  XXVII,  figure  1,  represents  a  fruiting  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  John  G.  Sin- 
clair at  Santa  Clara,  Colombia,  in  1913;  figure  2  shows  a  flower  of  the  same  plant. 

161.  Opuntia  fuliginosa  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  262.     1908. 

Tall,  tree-like,  4  meters  high  or  more,  much  branched;  joints  orbicular  to  oblong,  3  dm.  long  or 
less,  shining;  leaves  subulate,  8  to  12  mm.  long;  areoles  distant;  spines  few,  rarely  as  many  as  6,  dull 
brown  or  horn-colored,  the  longest  ones  4  cm.  long,  slightly  twisted;  glochids  yellow  to  brown;  flowers 
at  first  yellow  but  in  age  red,  5  to  6  cm.  long  including  the  ovary;  stigma-lobes  yellowish  green;  fruit 
pyriform  to  short-oblong,   3  to  4  cm.  long,  red;  seeds  5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   Near  Guadalajara,  Mexico. 

Distribution:    Central  Mexico. 

We  refer  this  species  to  our  series  Elatiores  with  hesitation. 

Illustration:    Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  pi.  25. 

161a.  Opuntia  zebrina  Small,  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  35.  1919.  (See  Appendix,  p.  222.) 

162.  Opuntia  boldinghii  sp.  nov. 

Bushy,  2  meters  high;  joints  dull  green,  somewhat  glaucous, 
obovate,  2  cm.  long,  spineless  or  with  very  short  brown  spines; 
leaves  conic,  red,  2  to  3  mm.  long;  areoles  large,  elevated,  filled 
with  short  brown  wool;  flowers  rose-colored,  5  cm.  long;  petals 
obtuse;  filaments  pink,  much  shorter  than  the  petals;  style  nearly 
white;  stigma-lobes  yellowish;  fruit  obovate,  4  cm.  long,  spineless; 
seeds  4  mm.  in  diameter. 

Collected  by  Dr.  N.  L.  Britton  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Shafer, 
March  1913,  in  cultivation  on  Curacao  (No.  2905,  type) ; 
also  collected  by  H.  Pittier  around  El  Palito,  Venezuela, 
July  2,  1913  (No.  6450),  and  by  Dr.  Rose  in  a  hedge  at 
Valencia,  Venezuela,  October  27,  1916  (No.  21842).  Chaca- 
chacare  and  Patos  Islands,  Trinidad. 

This  species  is  named  in  honor  of  Dr.  I.  Boldingh,  a 
Dutch  botanist,  author  of  a  valuable  descriptive  flora  of  the 
Dutch  West  Indian  islands. 

Plate  XXVI,  figure  3,  shows  a  flowering  joint  of  a  speci- 
men obtained  by  Dr.  Britton  and  Dr.  Shafer  in  Curacao  in 
1913. 

163.  Opuntia  distans  sp.  nov. 

Erect,  densely  much  branched,  3  to  4  meters  tall,  with  a 
short  trunk  1.5  dm.  in  diameter;  joints  flat,  bluish  green  when 
young,  grayish  green  when  old,  obovate,  2  to  2.5  dm.  long,  about 
1.5   dm.   wide  and  nearly  2   cm.   thick,   rounded  above,  narrowed        fig.  195.— Joint  of  O.  distans.  x  0.4. 


156  THE   CACTACEAE. 

at  the  base,  glabrous;  areoles  few,  only  about  12  on  each  side  of  a  joint,  distant,  large,  nearly  circular, 
8  to  10  mm.  broad,  slightly  elevated,  bearing  many  short  glochids,  but  quite  spineless:  leaves  subulate, 
about  3  mm.  long ;  ovary  obconic,  3  to  4  cm.  long,  bearing  a  few  small  areoles ;  sepals  broadly  triangular, 
acute,  6  to  10  mm.  long;  petals  broad,  rounded,  1  to  2  cm.  long,  orange-red. 

Distyibut'ton:  Sandy  places,  Andalgala,  Caramarca,  Argentina,  J.  A.  Shafer,  December 
15,  1916  (No.  7). 

A  spineless  species  noteworthy  for  its  few,  large,  distant  areoles.  We  append  it  to  the 
series  Elatiores,  but  are  uncertain  as  to  its  real  affinity.  The  large  distant  areoles  forbid 
associating  it  with  the  Ficus-indicae  or  the  Streptcicanthae. 

Figure  195  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen. 
Series  13.  ELATAE. 

Erect,  tall  species,  natives  of  South  America,  with  oblong  or  oval  joints,  the  brown  or  white  spines, 
when  present,  only  one  or  few  at  each  areole,  except  on  the  trunk  and  old  joints. 

Key  to  Species 

Joints  ovate  to  broadly  oblong  or  obovate. 

Joints    thin,    lustrous,    light    green 161.  O.  vulgum 

Joints  turgid,  dull  green. 

Leaves    purplish,    rigid;    joints    dark    green Ib'i.OeLita 

Leaves  green,  not  rigid;  joints  pale  green. 

Spines  slender,  terete 166.  O  c^rdiosperma 

Spines  stout,  angled,  elongated 167.  O.  arechavaletai 

Joints  narrowly  oblong  to  linear  or  spatulate. 

Joints  oblong  to  hnear;  flowers  brick-red 16&.  O.  tnieckleyi 

Joints  spatulate;  flowers  orange 169.  O.  hotuierensis 

164.  Opuntia  vulgaris  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  1.   1768. 

CmIu5  monacMithoi  Wildenow,  Enum.  PI.  Suppl.   33.      1813. 
Opuntia  monacanthj  Haworth,   Suppl.   PI.   Succ.  81.      1819. 
Cactus  urumbeba  Vellozo,  Fl.  Flum.  207.     1825. 
Cactus  Micus   Roxburgh.    Fl.    Indica   2:    475.  1832. 

Cactus  chinensh  Roxburgh.  Fl.  Indica  2:  476.      1832. 
Opuntia  monacantha  gracHior  Lemaire.  Cact.  Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  68.     1839. 
Opuntia  umbrella  Steudel,   Nom.  ed.   2.   2:   222.      1841. 
Opuntia  roxhurghiana  Voigt,  Hon.  Suburb.  Calcutt.  62.     1845. 
Opuntia  monacanthi  dejlexa  Salm-Dyck.  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.   1849.  66.     1850. 
Opuntia  lemaireana  Console  in  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.   Bois   894.      1898. 
Plant  2  to  4  or  even  6  meters  high,  often  with  a  definite  trunk,  usually  with  a  large  much  branched 
top;   trunk  cylindric,    1.5   dm.   in  diameter,   either  spiny   or  smooth;   joints   ovate  to   oblong,    narrowed 
at  base,   1   to  3  dm.  long,  bright  shining  green;  leaves  subulate,  2  to  3  mm.  long;  areoles  filled  with 
short  wool;  glochids  brownish;  spines   1   or  2,  sometimes  more   (on  the  trunk  often  10  or  more)   from 
an  areole,  erect,   1   to  4  cm.   long,  yellowish  brown  to  dark  reddish  brown;  flowers  yellow  or  reddish, 
7.5  cm.   broad;   sepals  broad,   each  with  a  broad   red    stripe   down    the    middle;    petals   golden-yellow, 
widely  spreading;  filaments  greenish,  style  white;  stigma-lobes  6,  white;  ovary  spineless,  3.5  cm.  long; 
fruit  obovoid,  5  to  7.5  cm.  long,  reddish  purple,  long-persisting,  sometimes  proliferous. 
Type  locality:    Type  based  on  an  illustration,  the  origin  unknown. 

Distrihut!07r.  Coast  and  islands  of  Brazil,  Uruguay,  and  Argentina;  in  the  interior  to 
Paraguay;  an  escape  in  Cuba,  India,  and  south  Africa  and  naturalized  in  Australia;  fre- 
quently cultivated.  According  to  J.  H.  Maiden  it  is  found  in  every  state  of  Australia,  but  it 
is  not  inclined  to  spread  and  become  a  pest. 

As  has  been  recently  pointed  out  by  Burkill,  the  Opuntia  riih^aris  of  Miller  is  the  same 
as  O.  monacantha  Haworth.  O.  vidgayh  was  based  on  Bauhin's  figure  (Hist.  PI.  1:  154. 
1650),  which  was  taken  from  Lobelius  (Icones  2:  241.  1591),  and  is  a  tall,  branching  plant. 
This  species  is  not  to  be  confused  with  the  low,  spreading  species  of  the  eastern  United 
States,  long  known  as  O.  vulgaris.  (See  p.  127.) 

This  species  is  said  by  Burkill  to  be  distributed  over  the  earth  more  widely  than  any 
other,  but  our  observation  in  America  is  that  0.  pats-indica  is  by  far  the  most  widely  spread 
species. 

O.  vulgaris  was  one  of  those  most  commonly  used  in  the  nopalries  of  India  and  South 
Africa  in  the  cochineal  industry. 

We  have  referred  both  of  Roxburgh's  species  here,  altiiough  Burkill  was  inclined  to 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


LATE    XXVn 


1.  Upper  part  of  fruitint;  joint  of  OpinUid  sch/niidiniii.  3.     Mowennt;  joint  of  Opmifhi  vulgaris. 

2.  Flower  of  Opinilid  sch/uiiaiiiiii.  4.     Flowering  joint  of  Opnntia  stiicta. 

(All  three-fourths  size) 


OPUNTIA.  157 

refer  Cactus  chinensis  to  O.  decumana,  which  in  his  sense  is  O.  ficus-indica. 

Opuntia  monacantha  variegata  (Usted  in  Cat.  Darrah  Succ.  Manchester  57.  1908)  is 
common  in  cultivation.  Some  of  the  joints  are  normally  green;  others  are  more  or  less 
blotched  with  white  or  yellow,  while  others  may  be  entirely  white  or  yellow;  the  leaves 
are  bright  red  and  though  small  are  conspicuous. 

Opuntia  urumbelta  Steudel  (Nom.  ed  2.  1:  246.  1840),  given  as  a  synonym  of  Cactus 
urutiibella,  is  doubtless  a  name  for  this  species. 

Opuntia  deflexa  Lemaire  (Cact.  Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  68.  1839)  was  given  as  a  synonym  of 
O.  monacantha  graci/ior;  while  the  latter  was  given  as  a  synonym  of  O.  elatior  dejlexa  Salm- 
Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  47.    1845). 

Opuntia  graci/ior  (hidex  Kewensis  3:  357.  1894)  is  a  mistake  for  O.  monacantha  gra- 
cilior  Lemaire. 

Illustrations:  Rev.  Hort.  4l:  f.  37;  66:  f.  58;  Bauhin,  Hist.  PI.  1:  154  [  =  Loebelius, 
Icones  2:  241},  this  last  as  Opuntia  vulgo,  etc.  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Montevideo  5:  pi.  32; 
Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  68:  pi.  3911;  Dept.  Agr.  N.S.  W.  Misc.  Publ.  253:  pi.  [3],  [4];  Agr.  Gaz. 
N.  S.  W.  24:  facing  p.  864;  Edwards's  Bot.  Reg.  20:  pi.  1726;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  30:  f.  122, 
in  part;  34:  f.  35;  Journ.  Dept.  Agr.  Vict.  6:  pl.25;  Martius,  Fl.  Bras.  4':  pi.  62;  Weeds, 
Pois.  PI.  Nat.  Al.  Vict.  pt.  1.  pi. 
[10],  [32],  all  as  Opuntia  monacan- 
tha: Amer.  Garden  II:  529;  Cact. 
Journ.  1:  167,  these  last  two  as 
Opuntia  monacantha  variegata;  Vel- 
lozo,  Fl.  Fium.  5:  pi.  32,  as  Cactus 
urumbeba;  De  CandoUe,  Pi.  Succ. 
Hist.  2:  pi.  138  [B];  De  Tussac,  Fl. 
AntiU.  2:  pi.  31,  these  last  two  as 
Cactus  opuntia  tuna;  Gard.  Chron. 
III.  47:  f.  174,  this  as  Opuntia  ficus- 
indica;  Riimpler,  Sukkulenten  f.  122, 
this  as  Opuntia  tuna;  Addisonia  1:  pl. 
38.  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25: 
476.  f.  9,  No.  20,  as  Opuntia  mona- 
cantha variegata;  PI.  Utiles  Madagas- 
car 124.  f.  39;  125.  f.  39.  pic,    196.— O.   elata.  xO.4.        Fig.   197.— O.  cardiosperma.  x  0.4. 

Plate  XXVII,  figure  3,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  presented  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  by  Mr.  Gustav  Rix  in  1900. 

165.  Opuntia  elata  Link  and  Otto  in  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  361.  1834. 

An  erect  plant,  1  meter  high  or  more;  joints  thiK:k,  dark  green,  oblong,  5  to  25  cm.  long,  half  as 
broad  as  long;  leaves  minute,  caducous;  areoles  remote,  large  (7  mm.  in  diameter),  filled  with  short 
white  wool,  usually  spineless;  spines  if  present  only  1  to  3,  except  on  old  stems  and  there  more,  horn- 
colored,  stiff,  sometimes  3.5  cm.  long;  glochids  very  tardy  in  appearing,  long  persistent;  flowers  about 
5  cm.  broad,  orange-yellow;  petals  obtuse,  broad;  filaments  short;  stigma-lobes  white;  fruit  oblong,  6 
cm.  long,  spineless,  with  a  truncate  umbilicus;  seeds  6  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:    In  Brazil. 

Distribution:  Paraguay,  but  according  to  Salm-Dyck  and  Pfeiffer,  from  Brazil  and 
probably  Curacao;  our  exploration  of  Curacao  failed  to  prove  its  existence  there.  It  is  grown 
for  ornament  in  Cuba  and  has  there  escaped  from  cultivation  in  gardens  to  roadsides  and 
waste  grounds. 

Schumann  did  not  know  where  to  place  this  species,  but  we  believe  it  is  most  nearly 
related  to  Opuntia  vulgaris. 


158  THE    CACTACEAE. 

Plate  XXVI,  figure  4,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  given  to  the  New  York  Bo- 
tanical Garden  by  Frank  Weinberg  in  1903;  figure  5  represents  another  joint  of  the  same 
plant.  Figure  196  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  by  Professor  Carlos  de  la  Torre 
at  Punta  de  los  Molinos,  Cuba,  in  1912. 

166.  Opuntia  cardiosperma  Schumann,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:  150.    1899. 

About  2  meters  high,  erect,  branching;  joints  narrowly  oblong  to  obovate;  rounded  at  apex,  10  to 
15  cm.  long  or  smaller  in  greenhouse  specimens,  easily  breaking  apart,  pale  green,  more  or  less  tuber- 
culate;  le.ives  minute,  subulate;  areoles  large,  1  to  2  cm.  apart,  with  white  wool,  when  young  having 
conspicuous  secreting  glands ;  spines,  when  present,  1  to  4,  acicular,  stiff,  more  commonly  1  or  2  from 
an  areole,  short,  1  to  2  cm.  long,  brownish  at  first  but  nearly  white  when  old,  porrect  or  ascending;  glo- 
chids  tardily  developing,  never  conspicuous,  brownish;  flowers  unknown;  fruit  elongated,  pear-shaped, 
7.5  cm.  long;  seeds  6  mm.  broad,  2.5  to  3  mm,  thick,  cordate,  gray,  with  broad  yellow  margins,  woolly 
on  the  sides. 

Type  locality:    At  Recoleta,  near  Asuncion,  Paraguay. 

Distribution :  Paraguay. 

Figure  197  represents  joints  of  the  plant  sent  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  from 
La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1913 

167.  Opuntia  arechavaletai  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires.  III.  4:520.    1905. 
Plants  tall,   1   to  3  meters  high,  much  branched;  joints  flattened,  oblong  to  obovate,  25  to  30  cm. 

long,  green;  spines,  usually  1,  sometimes  3,  elongated,  porrect,  up  to  9  cm.  long,  white,  flattened; 
flowers  4.5  cm.  long,  yellow;  stamens  and  style  white;  fruit  violet-purple,  7  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:   Near  Montevideo,  Uruguay 

Distributio>i:    Argentina  and  Uruguay. 

Illustrations:  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Montevideo  5:  pi.  35;  Karsten  and  Schenck,  Vegetations- 
bilder  II:  pi.  17. 

168.  Opuntia  mieckleyi  Schumann,  Bliihende  Kakteen  1:  pi.  AA.    1903. 

Plant  erect,  much  branched;  joints  narrowly  oblong,  15  to  25  cm.  long,  4  to  6  cm.  broad,  glab- 
rous, dark  green,  darker  below  the  areoles;  tubercles  rather  prominent;  leaves  small;  areoles  large, 
filled  with  white  wool;  spines,  when  present,  1  or  2,  very  short  (5  mm.  long),  dark-colored;  flower- 
buds  obtuse;   flowers  brick-red,   6  cm.   broad;   petals  irregularly  notched;  ovary  spineless. 

Type  locality:    In  Paraguay. 

Distribution:    Paraguay;  Estancia  Loma,  in  San  Salvador. 

Named  for  W.  Mieckley,  gardener  in  the  Berlin  Botanical  Garden. 

Illustration:    Bliihende  Kakteen  1:  pi.  44. 

169.  Opuntia  bonaerensis  Spegazzini,  Contr.  Fl.  Tandil  18.    1904. 

opuntia  ckialiensis  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  III.  4:  519.    1905. 
Two  meters  high,  very  much  branched;  joints  spatulate   to  elliptic-spatulate,    15   to   25   cm.   long, 
green;  spines  wanting  or  one,  short;  flowers  orange,  large  4  cm.  long;  fruit  obconic,  6  to  7  cm.  long, 
dull  purple;  seeds  5  to  6  mm.  long,  subglobose. 

Type  locality:    Sierra  de  Curamalal,  Argentina. 

Distribution:    Argentina  and  perhaps  Paraguay. 

Opuntia  paraguayensis  Schumann  (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:  149.  1899)  according 
to  Spegazzini,  and  if  so  this  name  would  supplant  0.  bonaerensis. 

Illustrations:  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Montevideo  5:  pi.  23;  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Mt)ntevidco  5: 
pi.  33,  as  Opuntia  chakensis. 

Mr.  W.  B.  Alexander  writes  of  this  species  as  follows: 

This  species  was  seen  only  on  rocky  slopes  in  the  Sierra  de  la  Vent.ina  in  the  south  of  the  province  of 
Buenos  Aires.  It  is  known  only  from  the  few  Sierras  which  rise  from  the  pampas  in  the  east  of  the  province. 
There  is  little  douht  that  it  is  nearly  related  to  Opuntia  vulgaris  Miller  (O.  monacanllja  Haworth)  which  was 
found  by  the  writer  at  Rio  de  Janeiro  and  is  familiar  in  Australia. 

The  three  following,  known  to  us  only  from  descriptions,  may  belong  to  this  series. 
Opuntia  stenarthra  Schumann,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:  149.    1899. 

Shrubby,  erect  or  decumbent,  creeping  over  stones  or  ascending  trees;  joints  thin,  narrow,  yellowish 


OPUNTIA. 

pines 


ither  wanting  or 


159 

to  3  from  an  areole, 


green,  oblong  to  lanceolate,  rounded  at  base,  glabrous 
stoutish,  subangular;  flowers  yellow;  seeds  woolly. 

Type  locality:    Estancia  Tagatiya,  Paraguay. 

Distribution :    Paraguay. 
Opuntia  assumptionis  Schumann,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:  153-    1899. 

Erect,  1  meter  high ;  joints  obovate,  narrowed  at  base,  thickish ;  spines  at  areoles  on  the  faces  of 
the  joints  none,  but  on  the  edges  1  or  2,  stout,  subulate,  the  upper  one  stouter,  3  to  4.5  cm.  long;  flower 
3.5  cm.  long,  lemon-yellow;  fruit  pear-shaped,  with  a  deep  umbilicus;  seeds  densely  villous. 

Type  locality:    Ascuncion,  Paraguay. 

Distribution :   Known  only  from  the  type  locality. 
Opuntia  cant^rai  Arechavaleta,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Montevideo  5:  278.    1905. 

Stems  erect,  branching,  5  to  10  dm.  high;  joints  elongated,  shining  green,  attenuate  below,  15  to 
20  cm.  long,  4  to  6  cm.  broad ;  areoles  orbicular,  when  young  each  surrounded  by  a  violet  spot,  mostly 
spineless,  about  4  cm.  apart;  spines,  when  present,  1  or  2  from  an  areole,  1,5  to  2  cm.  long,  whitish, 
with  brownish  tips;  flowers  orange-colored,  4  to  4.5  cm.  broad;  stigma-lobes  6  or  7,  light  flesh-colored; 
fruit  somewhat  pear-shaped,   5  cm.  long;  seeds  flattened. 

Type  locality:    In  Uruguay. 

Distribi/tion:  Along  the  coast  of  Uruguay. 

In  Uruguay  this  species  flowers  in  January  and  Feb 
ruary. 

Series  14.  SCHEERIANAE. 

A  single  bushy  species,  with  broad,  thin,  persistent  joints,  the 
areoles  close  together,  each  bearing  several  yellow,  acicular  spines 
and  long  white  or  yellow  hairs.     Its  home  is  unknown. 

170.  Opuntia  scheeri  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  895.    1898 

About  1  meter  high,  branching  at  base,  the  lower  branches 
sprawling  over  the  ground;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular,  1.5  to  3  dm 
long,  bluish  green;  areoles  circular,  elevated,  filled  with  short  brown 
wool;  spines  10  to  12,  yellow,  acicular,  each  surrounded  by  a  rov, 
of  long  white  or  yellow  hairs;  flowers  large,  pale,  yellow,  but  m 
age  salmon-colored;  stigma-lobes  deep  green;  fruit  globular,  red 
juicy,  truncate;  seed  small,  4  mm.  broad,  with  a  broad  irregular 
margin. 

Type  locality:    In  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Mexico,  but  known  to  us  only  from  cul- 
tivated specimens. 

This  is  a  very  beautiful  species,  covered  as  it  is  by  yellow  spines  and  long  hairs.  A  line 
plant  is  growing  in  the  open  at  La  Mortola,  Italy.  The  seedlings  produce  a  long  mass  of 
soft  white  hairs  almost  covering  the  joints  and  giving  an  appearance  very  different  from  the 
adult  plant.  In  this  young  stage,  according  to  Mr.  Alwin  Berger,  they  readily  pass  for 
Opuntia  senilis  (O.  crinijera). 

Opuntia  diversispina  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  46:  197.  pi.  9.  1919)  grown  from  seed 
of  unknown  origin  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  is  described  as  similar  to  O.  scheeri  and  in  the  ac- 
companying illustration  the  joints  resemble  those  of  that  species. 

Figure  198  represents  a  joint  from  a  specimen  sent  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1912. 
Series  15.  DILLENIANAE. 

Mostly  bushy  or  tall  species,  with  large,  flat,  persistent  joints,  and  yellow  spines  which  are  some- 
times brown  at  base,  some  species  spineless  or  nearly  so.  We  recognize  thirteen  species  as  composing  the 
series,  but  many  more  have  been  described.  The  plants  inhabit  the  southern  United  States,  the  West 
Indies,  Mexico,  and  northern  South  America. 


-Opun 


KEY  TO  SPECIES. 


Spines  nearly  setaceous,   most  of  tlieni   lefkxcti 

Spines,  when  present,  acicular  to  subulate. 

Joints  spineless,  or  with  only   1   or  2  spines  at  some  of  th( 
Corolla  rotate;  petals  yellow. 


171.  O.  cl}lorolka 


160 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


Plant  tall;  spines,  when  present,  2  cm.  long  or  less .  172.  O.laevis 

Plant  depressed,  bushy  or  spreading;  spines,  when  present,  up  to  7  cm    long  Hi.  O.  siricta 

turalla  cup-shaped;   petals  salmon ITia.  O.  keyein 

Joints  usually  manifestly  spiny;  spines  mostly  2  or  more  at  the  areoles 

Spines  mostly  stout,  commonly  flattened 

Spines  acicular  to  subulate,  terete,  or  slightly  flattened  at  the  base. 

Joints  elongated-lanceolate  or  oblong,  several  times  longer  than  wide 
Joints  obovate  to  suborbicular. 
Spines  long. 

Areoles  mostly  1.5  to  2  cm.  apart. 

Spines  subulate,  up  to  7.5  cm.  long.... 
Spines  acicular,  4  cm.  long  or  less. 
Spines  nearly  clear  yellow,  short.. 
Spines  brown  at  base,  long  and  slender 
Areoles  mostly  2.5  to  4  cm.  apart. 
Bushy  species. 

Spines   yellow  or  yellowish  brown 

Spines  pale  yellow  or  whitish 

Depressed  or  procumbent  plant 

Spines  only  1.5  cm.  long  or  less,  or  becoming  longer  on  old  joints. 

Plant  1  meter  high  or  less;  joints  thin 182.  O.  cafiada 

Plant  3  to  5  meters  high;  joints  very  thick. 

Spines  reflexed;   flowers  yellow 183.  O.  pyriformis 

Spines  spreading,  deciduous;  flowers  orange-red ISiJ.  O.  bonpl.mdi/ 

171.  Opuntia  chlorotica  Engelmann  and  Bigelow,  Proc.  Amen.  Acad.  3:  291..     1856. 

Opuntia  tidballii  Bigelow,  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:   11.     1856. 

Opunlia  ciirvospina  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club,  43:  88.  1916, 
Erect,  bushy,  sometimes  2  meters  high  or  more,  with  a  definite  trunk;  main  branches  nearly  erect; 
joints  ovate  to  orbicular,  sometimes  broader  than  long,  15  to  20  cm.  long,  more  or  less  glaucous,  bluish 
green;  leaves  subulate,  small,  reddish  at  tip;  areoles  closely  set,  prominent;  spines  yellow,  several,  most 
of  them  u.sually  appressed  and  reflexed,  setaceous,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  glochids  yellow,  numerous,  elon- 
gated, persistent;  flowers  yellow,  6  to  7.5  cm.  broad;  filaments  white;  fruit  purple  without,  green  within, 
4  cm.  long;  seeds  small. 


lli.O.JtlU'nii 
5   O.  Iingiiiformis 


76.  O.  lapona 


111.0.  li  II  oral  is 
178.  O.ackulatj 


179.  O.  lindheimeri 

180.  O.  cantabrigiensis 

181.  O.  procumhens 


Fig.    199. — Opuntia   chlorotica.  Fig.  200. — Opuntia  chlorotica.  x  0.4. 

l-^pe  locality.  On  both  sides  of  the  Colorado  from  San  Francisco  Mountains  to  head- 
waters of  Bill  Williams  River. 

Distribution:    Sonora  and  New  Mexico  to  Nevada,  California,  and  Lower  California. 

This  species  is  of  wide  distribution,  but  is  chiefly  confined  to  mountain  canyons,  being 
rarely  found  on  the  open  mesas. 


BRH  rON    AND    ROSE 


PLATE    XXVI 


1.     Flowering  joint  of  Ojjnnl'hi  laevis.  2.    Flowerint;  joint  of  Opiinlia  d/llei, 

3.    Upper  part  of  flowering  joint  of  Opiiiitia  .iciciilata.  (All  three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  161 

Illustrations:  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  pi.  3;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  6,  f.  1  to  3;  Bull.  Torr.  Club 
43:  pi.  2,  this  last  as  Opmitia  cuvvosp'ma:  Bull.  N.  Mex.  Coll.  Agr.  No.  78.  pi.  4;  Stand. 
Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2600. 

Figure  199  is  from  a  photograpli  of  a  plant  with  narrow  joints,  in  iVIcCleary's  Canyon, 
Santa  Rita  Mountains,  Arizona,  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal;  figure  200  represents  a  joint  of  a 
plant  from  the  collection  made  by  Professor  J.  W.  Toumcy  at  Tucson,  Arizona,  obtained  by 
Dr.  MacDougal  in  1902. 

Opuntia  palmeri  Engelmann  in  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  423.   1896. 

This  plant  has  not  been  again  collected  and  is  still  a  doubtful  species;  it  came  from  St. 
George,  southwestern  Utah.  In  1909  E.  W.  Nelson  made  a  collection  for  us  in  this  region, 
but  the  only  shrubby,  juicy-fruited  species  which  he  collected  has  brown  spines  and  brown 
glochids,  which  would  seem  to  exclude  it  from  O.  palnu'vi.  It  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  O. 
pcdiiieri  should  be  referred  to  0.  chlorot'idi.  a  widely  dispersed  species,  but  of  which  we  have 
not  seen  any  specimens  from  Utah. 

172.  Opuntia  laevis  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  419.     1896. 

Loosely  few-branched,  1  to  2  meters  high,  but  in  cultivation  often  forming  a  low,  dense  bush; 
joints  obovate  to  oblong,  1.5  to  3  dm.  long,  light  green,  often  spineless  but  usually  with  a  few  (1  to  3) 
short  spines  1  cm.  long  or  less  at  the  areoles  of  the  upper  part  of  the  joint;  areoles  rather  distant, 
small;  flower  large,  6  to  7  cm.  broad;  petals  lemon-yellow,  sometimes  tinged  with  red,  broad,  and  ob- 
tuse or  retuse;  iilaments  and  style  short,  pale  yellow;  stigma-lobes  green;  ovary  turbinate,  more  or  less 
tuberculate,  at  first  leafy,  often  bristly  at  top;  fruit  obovoid,  5  to  7  cm,  long;  seeds  4  to  5  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:    In  Arizona. 

Distribution:    In  the  mountains  about  Tucson,  Arizona. 

Referred  by  Professor  Schumann  to  0.  inerniis  {0.  stricta),  but  it  is  not  that  species. 

Illustrations:  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  8,  f.  1;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull. 
72:  pi.  1;  Plant  World  11'":  f.  5;  MacDougal,  Bot.  N.  Amer.  Des.  pi.  56.' 

Plate  XXVIII,  figure  1,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  brought  by  Dr.  Mac- 
Dougal  from  Tucson,  Arizona,  in   1902,  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden. 

173.  Opuntia  stricta  Haworth,  Syn.  PI.  Succ.  191.     1812. 

Caclus  opuntia  inermh  De  CandoUe,   PI.  Succ.  Hist.  2:pl.  138  [C].     1799.* 
Cactui  strictus  Haworth,  Misc.  Nat.  188.     1803. 
Opuntia  inermis  De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:   473.      1828. 
Opuntia  airampo   Philippi,   Anal.   Univ.    Chile   85:  492.      1894. 
Opuntia  parva  Berger,  Hort.  Mortol.  411.    1912. 
Opuntia  bentonii  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  25.      1912. 

Opuntia  longiclada  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  525.  1916  (according  to  description  and  illustration). 
Bushy,  low,  spreading  plants,  sometimes  forming  large  clumps,  seldom  over  8  dm.  high;  joints 
obovate  to  oblong,  usually  8  to  15  cm.  long,  but  sometimes  much  elongated  and  then  30  cm.  long  or 
more,  green  or  bluish  green,  glabrous,  often  spineless  especially  in  greenhouse  specimens,  sometimes 
but  a  spine  or  two  on  a  joint,  at  other  times  spines  more  abundant;  leaves  stout,  subulate,  3  to  4  mm. 
long;  areoles  distant,  the  wool  brownish,  the  glochids  short;  spines,  when  present,  usually  1  or  2  from 
an  areole,  stiff,  terete,  yellow,  1  to  4  cm.  long;  flowers  6  to  7  cm.  long;  petals  yellow,  broad,  obtuse, 
apiculate;  filaments  yellow  to  greenish;  style  usually  white;  stigma-lobes  usually  white  but  sometimes 
greenish ;  fruit  purple,  usually  broadest  at  top,  tapering  to  a  slender  base,  4  to  6  cm.  long,  with  a  more 
or  less  depressed  umbilicus. 

Type  locality:  Not  given. 

Distribution:   Western    Cuba;    Florida    to  southern  Texas. 

Opuntia  viih^aris  haUarica  Weber  (Diet.  Hort.  Bois  894.  1898)  is  given  by  Weber  as 
a  synonym  of  O.  iiierniis:  Opiiittia  balcarica  Weber  (Hirscht,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  8: 
175.    1898)  has  also  been  used,  but  not  described,  and  Hirscht  says  it  belongs  here. 

This  species  is  often  cultivated  on  the  west  coast  of  South  America.  It  was  there 
given  the  name  O.  airampo  by  Dr.  Philippi,  who  supposed  it  to  be  the  airampo  of  the  Peru- 
vians, a  native  species,  quite  different  from  this  one. 

•Berger  (Hort.  Mortol.  411.  1912)  gives  the  date  1797. 


162 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


This  species  is  the  pest  pear  of  New  South  Wales  and  Queensland.  It  has  now  run 
wild  over  thousands  of  acres  of  the  best  agricultural  and  grazing  land  of  the  interior  of 
Australia.  J.  H.  Maiden  says:  "The  growth  of  this  Opiintia  is  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
world,   and   the  spread  of  few  plants  in   any  country  can  be  compared  with  it." 

Illustrations:  Dept.  Agr.  N.  S.  W.  Misc.  Pupl.  253:  pi.  [5};  Gard.  Chron.  III.  34:  f.  32; 
Gartenflora  31:  pi.  1082,  f,  d,  e,  f;  De  Candolle,  PI.  Succ.  Hist.  2:  pi.  138  [C};  De  Tussac, 
Fl.  AntiU.  2:  pi.  34,  the  last  two  as  Cactus  opuutia  iuermis;  Agr.  Gaz.  N.  S.  W.  23:  pi.  opp. 
713;  pi  opp.  714;  pi.  opp.  716;  Bliihende  Kakteen  2:  pi.  108,  all  these  as  Opuutia  i)ien//is. 

Plate  XXVII,  figure  4,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Britton 
and  John  F.  Cowell  on  limestone  rocks  near  Pinar  del  Rio,  Cuba,  in  1911. 
173a.  Opuntia  keyensis  Britton.  (See  Appendix,  p.  222.) 
174.     Opuntia   dillenii    (Ker-Gawler)    Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  79.     1819. 

Cactus  dillenii  Ker-Gawler,  Edwards's  Bot.  Reg.  3:  pi.  255.     1818. 

Opuntia  horriJa  Salm-Dyck  in  De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:  472.      1828. 

Opuntia   maritima  Rafinesque,   Atl.   Journ.    146.      1832. 

Opunti.,  lunonlea  Gibbes,   Proc.   Elliott  Soc.   Nat.   Hist.    1:   272.      1859. 


'  '-f-^ 

'/ 

"'T'''**^ 

f 

;fc 

^■^i^^M^ 

w 

^^^.■i^^'f,,. 

Fig.    201.— Opuntia   dillenii,    Antigua,    West   Indies. 

Low,  spreading  bushes  growing  in  broad  clumps  and  often  forming  dense  thickets,  or  t.ill  .ind 
much  branched,  2  to  3  meters  high,  sometimes  with  definite  terete  trunks;  joints  obovate  to  oblong, 
7  to  40  cm.  long,  the  margin  more  or  less  undulate,  bluish  green,  somewhat  glaucous,  but  bright  green 
when  young,  the  areoles  somewhat  elevated;  leaves  subulate,  curved  backward,  5  mm.  long;  areoles 
often  large,  filled  with  short  brown  or  white  wool  when  young,  usually  few  and  remote,  on  old  joints 
10  to  12  mm.  in  diameter;  spines  often  10  from  an  areoie  on  first-year  joints,  very  variable,  usually 
more  or  less  flattened  and  curved,  sometimes  terete  and  straight,  yellow,  more  or  less  brown-banded, 
or  mottled,  often  brownish  in  age,  sometimes  7  cm.  long,  but  usually  shorter,  sometimes  few  or  none; 
glochids  numerous,  yellow;  wool  in  areoles  short,  sometimes  brown,  sometimes  white;  flowers  in  the 
typical  form  lemon-yellow,  in  some  forms  red  from  the  first,  7  to  8  cm.  long;  petals  broadly  obovate. 
4  to  5  cm.  long;  filaments  greenish  yellow;  style  thick,  white;  stigma-lobes  white;  fruit  pear-shaped 
to  subglobose,  narrowed  at  base,  5  to  7.5  cm.  long,  purplish,  spineless,  juicy. 

Type  locality:  Based  on  Dillenius's  illustration. 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


View  of  Opuniia  keyensis. 
View  of  Opuntia  dillenii. 


OPUNTJA.  163 

Distribution :  Coasts  of  South  Carolina,  Florida,  Bermuda,  the  West  Indies,  east  coast 
of  Mexico,  and  northern  South  America;  extending  inland  in  Cuba. 

This  species  is  composed  of  many  races  varying  greatly  in  habit,  character  and  number 
of  spines,  shape  of  joints,  and  color  of  flowers.  Brother  Leon  has  sent  us  specimens  of 
several  individually  quite  different  plants  which  inhabit  hilltops  in  Cuba. 

Opuntia  lucayana  Britton  (Bull.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  4:  141.  1906),  inhabiting  Grand 
Turk  Island,  Bahamas,  differs  in  having  elongated,  often  narrowly  oblong  joints  2  to  4  times 
as  long  as  wide  and  many  elongated,  little-flattened  spines.  It  grows  with  Opuntia  dilloiii 
and  0.  nashii,  and  is  believed  to  be  a  hybrid  with  these  species  as  parents.  A  closely  sim- 
ilar plant  was  observed  on  Buck  Island,  St.  Thomas,  Danish  West  Indies,  growing  imme- 
diately with  O.  dillenii  and  O.  rubescens,  the  hybrid  nature  of  which  was  unmistakable,  and 
similar  plants  were  seen  also  on  Antigua,  British  West  Indies. 

Opuntia  cubensis  Britton  and  Rose  (Torreya  12:  14.  1912),  observed  in  a  valley  near 
the  southern  coast  of  Cuba  at  Guantanamo  Bay,  differs  in  having  narrower  joints,  rather 
readily  separable  and  smaller  flowers,  its  stout  spines  little  flattened.  It  grows  near  colo- 
nies of  Opuntia  dilloiii  and  O.  inilitaris.  and  is  probably  a  hybrid  between  them. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  possible  hybrid  origin  of  Opuntia  antillana, 
with  O.  dillenii  as  one  of  its  parents.    (See  p.  115). 

Two  varieties  of  Opuntia  dillenii  are  given  by  name  only;  minor  Salm-Dyck  (Hort. 
Dyck.   185.    1834);   orbiculata  Salm-Dyck    (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  67.  1850). 

Opuntia  gilva  Berger  (Hort.  Mortol.  233.  1912)  is  unpublished.  The  name  was  ap- 
plied to  a  specimen  collected  by  Carl  F.  Baker  in  Cuba  in  1907,  and  has  been  distributed 
under  this  name.    It  is  only  a  form  of  this  very  variable  species. 

The  plant  is  hardy  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  the  United  States  and  in  southern  California. 
It  is  widely  distributed  through  cultivation  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Old  World,  being  a 
"pest  pear"  in  southern  India  and  in  Australia;  it  is  used  for  hedges  in  Teneriffe,  and  is  com- 
mon along  the  sea  on  Grand  Canary  Island.  On  Bermuda,  when  growing  in  shade,  the  plant 
is  often  spineless,  and  its  joints  elongate  sometimes  to  a  length  of  3  dm.,  while  only  6  or  7  cm. 
wide.    This  elongation  of  the  joints  also  appears  in  plants  from  Florida. 

Uliistrations:  Edwards's  Bot.  Reg.  3:  pi.  255,  as  Cactus  dillenii:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  pi. 
1,  2,  both  these  as  Opuntia  bentonii:  DiUenius,  Hort.  Elth.  2:  pi.  296,  this  as  Tuna  major,  etc.;  Amer. 
Journ.  Pharm.  68:  pi.  opp.  169,  as  Opuntia  vulgaris:  Descourtilz,  Fl,  Med.  Antill.  7:  pi.  513,  this  as 
Cactus  opuntia.  Abh.  Bayer.  Akad.  Wiss.  Miinchen  2:  pi.  3,  f.  7  (?);  Amer.  Garden  11:  473  (.^); 
Cyl.  Amer.  Hort.  Bailey  3:  f.  1545,  1546;  Cact.  Journ.  1:  154  (.?);  Dept.  Agr.  N.  S.  W.  Misc.  Publ. 
253:  pi.  [2];  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  2:  f.  757;  W.  Watson,  Cact.  Cult,  f.  86,  all  these  as  Opuntia  tuna: 
Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  10:  f.  26,  this  as  Opuntia  inermis:  Loudon,  Encycl.  PI.  ed.  3.  f.  6878,  this  as 
Cactus  tuna;  Britton  FI.  Bermuda  255.  Garden  13:  107*,  as  Opuntia  crassa:  Bull.  Torr.  Club  46:  pi. 
10,  as  O.  maritinia:  Lindley,  Veg.  King.  ed.  3.  746.  f.  498,  No.  1,  2:  Knorr,  Thesaurus  pi.  o;  Watson, 
Cact.  Cult.  ed.  3.  f.  56. 

Plate  XXVIII,  figure  2,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  collected  in  1091  by  N.  L.  Britton 
and  J.  F.  Cowell  on  the  Island  St.  Martin,  West  Indies;  plate  xxix,  figure  1,  is  from  a  photograph  of 
the  related  Opuntia  keyensis  growing  on  Boot  Key,  Florida,  taken  by  Marshall  A.  Howe  in  1909;  fig- 
ure 2  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  on  Bermuda,  obtained  by  Dr.  Britton  in  1912.  Figure  201  "is 
from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  growing  on  Antigua,  British  West  Indies,  taken  by  Paul  G.  Russell 
in  1913. 
174a.     Opuntia  ochrocentra   Small,  sp.  nov. 

Erect,  1  meter  tall  or  less,  much  branched  or  sometimes  diffuse,  with  fibrous  roots;  joints  elliptic  to 
oval,  varying  to  broadest  above  the  middle,  1  to  3  dm.  long,  thitkish,  light  green,  not  repand;  leaves 
ovoid,  2  to  4  mm.  long,  often  purplish;  areoles  rather  prominent;  glochids  yellowish  brown;  spines  5  to 
6  together  or  sometimes  fewer  on  new  joints,  yellow,  stiff,  subulate,  rcfle.xed,  becoming  gray  when  dry, 
yellowish  green  when  wet,  straight,  the  longer  ones  4.6  to  5  cm.  long;  flowers  rather  few;  ovary  tur- 
binate, even;  sepals  often  purple-tinged,  deltoid  to  rhombic-orbicular  or  rhombic-reniform,  acute;  corolla 
bright  lemon-yellow,   7  to  8.5   cm.   wide;  petals  few,   cuneate,   somewhat  crisped;   berry  obovoid,   red, 

~ -.the  .'same  one  tli.it   Nicholson  used    (f.  757)    and  that  \V.   Watson 


164 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


about  2  cm.  long. 

On  edge  of  hammock,  southeastern  end  of  Big  Pine  Key,  Florida.  Type  specimens  collected  in  De- 
cember 1921,  by  J.  K.  Small,  in  the  herbarium  of  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden.  Related  to  O.  dil- 
lenii.  differing  in  shape  of  the  joints,  which  are  not  repand,  and  the  strongly  reflexed,  scarcely  flattened 
spines. 

175.  Opuntia  linguiformis  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Boc.  Card.  19:  270.     1908. 

A  bushy  plant,  1  meter  high  or  more;  joints  elongated,  oblong  to  ovate-oblong  or  lanceolate,  2  to 
4  dm,  long  or  even  more,  often  several  times  longer  than  wide,  pale  green  and  slightly  glaucous;  leaves 
6  mm.  long,  terete;  spines  yellow,  very  slender,  terete  or  nearly  so;  areoles  filled  with  brown  wool; 
flowers  yellow,  7  to  8  cm.  broad;  petals  broad;  filaments  white  or  greenish  at  base;  stigma-lobes  9, 
green;  ovary  bearing  numerous  long  glochids  at  the  upper  areoles;  fruit  reddish  purple;  seeds  3  or  4 
mm.  broad,  acute  on  the  back. 

Type  locality.    Near  San  Antonio,  Texas. 

Distribution:   Southern  Texas,  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Antonio. 

This  plant  is  rather  common  in  cultivation  in  the  Southwest  and  is  now  found  in  most 
cactus  collections.  According  to  Dr.  Griffiths,  it  is  occasionally  found  wild  near  San  Antonio. 
We  have  seen  somewhat  similar  plants  from  near  Brownsville,  Texas,  probably  referable  to 
one  of  the  races  of  Opuntia  lindheinieri. 

On  account  of  the  shape  of  the  joints,  this  species  is  commonly  called  cow's  tongue  or 
lengua  de  vaca. 

Illustration:   Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  pi.  27,  lower  figure. 

Plate  XXX  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  by  Dr.  MacDougal  from  the 
collection  of  Professor  J.  W.  Toumey  at  Tucson,  Arizona,  for  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden  in  1902. 

176.  Opuntia  tapona  Engelmann  in  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  423.     1896. 
Low,    spreading  plants   rarely   over   6   dm.   high ; 

joints  glabrous,  orbicular  to  obovate,  20  to  25  cm.  in 
diameter,  turgid,  pale  green;  spines  2  to  4  yellow, 
one  much  longer,  5  to  7  cm.  long,  slender,  porrect  or 
sometimes  curved  downward;  glochids  brownish; 
fruit  4  to  6  cm.  long,  clavate,  dark  purple  without, 
red  within,  spineless. 

Type  locality:  Near  Loreto,  Lower  Califor- 


FlG.   202. — Opuntia  tapona.     x  0.4. 


Fig.  203.— Opuntia  littorali; 


ITTON    AND    ROSE 


PLATE   XXX 


M.  £.  iiaton  del, 


Flowering  joint  of  Opuntia  linguijorDiis. 
(%  Natural  size.) 


OPIJNTIA.  165 

Distribution :  Southern  part  of  Lower  California. 

Figure  202  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  on  Pichilinque  Island,  Lower  Cali- 
fornia, 1911. 

Related  to  O.  tapona,  but  probably  specifically  distinct  from  it,  is  a  plant  growing  in  the  mountains 
of  Cedros  Island,  Lower  California ;  it  was  recorded  from  this  island  by  Dr.  E.  L.  Greene  as  O.  engelnian- 
nii,  and  a  specimen  was  brought  to  Washington  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1911.  This  plant  may  be  described  as  fol- 
lows: About  1  meter  high;  joints  oblong,  large,  20  cm.  long  or  more,  smooth;  areoles  3  cm.  apart  or  more, 
very  large,  filled  with  brown  wool;  spines  usually  about  7,  pale  yellow,  slender,  terete,  the  longest  ones  3 
cm.  long;  glochids  yellow.    (Rose  No.  16170.) 

177.  Opuntia  littoralis   (Engelmann)   Cockerell,  Bull.  South.  Calif.  4:    15.     1905. 

Opuntia  eiifielnuvinii  littoralis  Engelmann  in  Brewer  and  Watson,  Bot.  Calif.  1:  248.  1876. 
Opiinlij  Itiidheimeri  littoralis  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  422.  1896. 
Bushy  plants,  low  and  spreading;  joints  thick,  orbicular  to  oblong,  15  cm.  long  or  more,  usually 
smaller  in  greenhouse  plants,  dull  green;  areoles  rather  closely  set,  large,  often  elevated  on  old  joints; 
spines  numerous,  yellow,  rather  short  on  young  joints  (1  to  2  cm.  long),  but  on  old  joints  much  longer,  in 
age  more  or  less  flattened ;  wool  of  the  areoles  brown ;  flowers  large,  yellow,  8  to  12  cm.  broad;  sepals 
broad,  apiculate;  petals  retuse;  ovary  with  many  areoles;  fruit  red,  juicy;  seeds  4  to  3  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:  Coast  from  Santa  Barbara  to  San  Diego,  California. 

Distribution:  Along  and  near  the  coast  of  southern  California. 

This  species  was  very  briefly  described  as  a  variety  of  Opuntia  engelmannii  in  1876. 
No  definite  locality  was  given  for  it,  and  the  original  material  preserved  is  so  poor  that  its 
identification  is  doubtful.  We  have  taken  as  our  representative  of  this  species  the  low, 
bushy  plant  with  rather  thick  joints,  large  and  closely  set  areoles  and  yellow  spines. 

Opuntia  littoralis  often  grows  in  proximity  to  O.  occideiitdlis  in  southern  California,  and  hybrids  of 
the  two  may  exist. 

Figure  203  represents  joints  of  the  plant  collected  at  Elsinore,  California,  by  Dr.  MacDougal  in  1913. 

178.  Opuntia  aciculata  Griffiths,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29:  10.     1916. 

Low,  bushy  plant,  1  meter  high  or  more,  often  3  meters  broad  or  more,  the  lower  branches  decum- 
bent and  sending  up  erect  branches;  joints  obovate,  12  to  20  cm.  long,  rounded  at  apex,  dull  dark  green, 
somewhat  glaucous,  bearing  large,  closely  set  areoles,  these  often  spineless;  leaves  subulate,  7  mm.  long; 
spines  several  in  a  cluster,  acicular,  slender,  3  to  5.5  cm.  long,  often  reflexed,  brownish  at  base,  with  yel- 
low tips,  seemingly  deciduous;  glochids  numerous,  from  all  parts  of  the  areoles,  long,  persisting  for  sev- 
eral years;  flower  golden  yellow,  sometimes  with  a  greenish  center,  large,  8  to  10  cm.  broad;  petals  broad, 
rounded  or  retuse;  filaments  yellowish;  style  dull  yellowish  green;  stigma-lobes  8  to  10,  green;  fruit 
pyriform,  purple. 

Type  locality:  Near  Laredo,  Texas. 

Distributioti:  On  high  gravelly  ground  at  type  locality  and  vicinity. 

This  species  is  not  very  common  about  Laredo,  Texas,  but  grows  in  small  colonies 
usually  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  plants.  It  can  easily  be  distinguished  from  related 
species,  and  is  usually  restricted  to  dry  hills.  Our  description  is  based  on  specimens  ob- 
tained by  Dr.  Rose  at  Laredo  in  1913.  Since  then  it  has  been  grown  both  in  Washington 
and  New  York. 

Plate  xxviii,  figure  3,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose 
near  the  type  locality  in  1913. 

179.  Opuntia  lindheimeri  Engelmann    Bost    Jouin    Nat   Hist.  6:  207.      1850. 

OpJiiili  iJiiUn    Eni,tlnnnn     Proc     Amer     Acad    3     291       1856 

0/'//«//;//H./Atv//<//  ,////i/i  Oiultei    Conti    U    S    Nat    Herb    3     421       1896. 

Opiinli  I  Lii^dii    ,1        ','•   1    SLhuminn    Gcstrntb    Kiktcen  725       1898. 

Opuntiaiuii  (,i"i'        ,il   Hut     N     Ml\    Ali    I  \p    Sti    Bull    60:47.      1906. 

Opuntiajeii  .  (  .Its     Kq.     M,,     I„>t    C,u,l     19     26"'       1908. 

Opuntiatiui         I-  I     1      Mo    b..t    tiuj    2(i     s^       1909 

Optint!ite\  II       (iMIkI,       Iv   p     M,.     h,,i     C.u.l     20     •):       1909 

Opiinln  uil  III'         (.Mlliilis    lUp    Mo    boi    C.u.l    20     Ml       1909 

Opin.t,,  ill,  (^,nttnhs    Rep    Mo     Hot    Cu.l     21      U.i       1910 

Opiinl  ,    ,/.  w   (, Nihil, s    iUp    Mo     Boi     Cud     21      16^       1910 

0/ww/, /.;,// w  (. I  uluhs    lUp    M.I    Bot    Ciul    21      Hi       1910 

Opi.i  (ouluhs    Rep    Mo    Bot    Gild    22     iO       1912 

Op'o  (uiiml.s     Rep    M,>     Bot    Grid    12     ,5       1912 

Opi„       .  MuLcnseu     Bull    Toir    Club    39     290       1912 


166  THE   CACTACEAE. 

Opiimiagrifjilhiicinj  Mackensen,   Bull.   Torr.   Club  39:  291.     1912. 
Opu/it/a reflexa   Mackensen,    Bull.   Torr.    Club    39:  292.     1912. 
Opuntiadeltiai  Griffiths.   Bull.   Torr.   Club  43:  8-1     1916. 
Opunlia laxiflora  Gritfiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:   85.      1916. 
Opiwlhijlexospimi  Griffiths,   Bull.   Torr.   Club  43:  87.     1916. 
Opumiasquarroui  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  91.     1916. 

Usually  erect,  2  to  4  meters  high,  with  a  more  or  less  definite  trunk,  but  .it  times  much  lower  and 
spreading;  joints  green  or  bluish  green,  somewhat  glaucous,  orbicular  to  obovate,  up  to  25  cm.  long; 
leaves  subulate,  3  to  4  mm.  long,  somewhat  flattened,  pointed;  areoles  distant,  often  6  cm.  apart;  spines 
usually  1  to  6,  often  only  2,  one  porrect  and  4  cm.  long  or  more,  the  others  somewhat  shorter  and  only 
slightly  spreading,  pale  yellow  to  nearly  white,  sometimes  brownish  or  blackish  at  base,  or  some  plants 
spineless;  glochids  yellow  or  sometimes  brownish,  usually  prominent;  petals  yellow  to  dark  red;  stigma- 
lobes  usually  green;  fruit  purple,  pyriform  to  oblong,  3.5  to  5.5  cm.  long. 

Type  locid'ity.  About  New  Braunfels,  Texas. 

Dhtr'ibut'ion:   Southwestern   Louisiana,   southeastern  Texas,  and  Taniaulipas,  Mexico. 

Opunt'ui  Hudheiiney'i  is  an  extremely  variable  species,  composed  of  many  races,  differ- 
ing in  armament,  color  of  flowers,  size  and  shape  of  joints  and  of  fruit.  Certain  forms  have 
been  described  which  in  cultivation  we  have  been  able  to  recognize  as  possibly  distinct; 
but  in  the  field  they  seem  to  integrade  with  other  forms,  indicating  that  they  are  at  most 
only  races  of  a  very  variable  species.  In  the  delta  of  the  Rio  Grande  this  is  especially  true, 
and  from  this  region  a  number  of  species  has  been  described.  In  fact,  all  the  plants  de- 
scribed as  species  which  are  cited  above  in  the  synonymy  grow  within  a  relatively  small 
distributional  area.  Dr.  Rose  has  examined  all  this  region  and  is  of  the  opinion  that  only 
one  species  of  this  series  exists  there,  and  this  we  believe  is  to  be  referred  to  Opunt'ui  Vnid- 
hehiiei'i.  It  is  very  common  about  Brownsville  and  Corpus  Christi,  where  it  forms  thickets 
covering  thousands  of  acres  of  land.  It  is  very  variable  in  habit,  being  either  low  and  widely 
spreading  or  becoming  tall  and  tree-like,  sometimes  3  meters  high,  with  a  definite  cylin- 
dric  trunk.  Plants  from  these  two  extremes,  if  studied  apart  from  the  field,  might  be  con- 
sidered as  different  species,  but  in  the  field  one  sees  innumerable  intergrading  forms.  The 
low,  prostrate  forms  gradually  pass  into  others  with  more  or  less  erect  or  ascending  branches, 
while  the  large  tree-like  forms  often  bear  large  lateral  branches  which  lie  prostrate  on  the 
ground,  indicating  that  they  have  developed  from  the  prostrate  ones.  Decided  differences 
in  the  flower  colors  have  been  pointed  out  in  the  original  descriptions,  and  we  have  observed 
them  in  greenhouse  specimens,  but  they  do  not  correlate  with  other  characters. 

Dr.  Small  has  found  this  plant  established,  after  cultivation,  in  pine  lands  west  of  Halenville,  l-'lorida. 

Opiintia  eUiUtvia  Griffiths  (Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.21:  170.  pi.  25.  1910),  an  unarmed  species,  is  known 
only  from  cultivated  plants.  Dr.  Gritfiths  states  that  it  is  quite  different  from  the  r-icin-iudicae  series,  which 
it  much  resembles,  and  is  quite  hardy  in  southern  Texas.  It  may  be  a  spineless  race  of  the  common  O. 
Undhehneri  of  this  region. 

Opiint'ta  pyrocarpa  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  90.  1916)  we  do  not  know;  in  its  long  pyriform 
fruit  it  suggests  this  plant;  the  type  comes  from  Marble  Falls,  Texas. 

O.  tfhileiiana  Berger  and  O.  haemalocarpa  Berger  (Bot.  Jahrb.  Engler  36:  455  and  456.  1905)  are 
of  this  relationship,  but  have  browner  spines  than  is  usual  in  the  species. 

OpNinia  leptocaipa  Mackensen  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  38:  I4l.  1911),  characterized  by  its  low,  bushy 
habit  and  elongated,  almost  abnormal  fruits,  suggests  a  natural  hybrid  between  O.  liiiJheiiiieii  and  O. 
ruacrorhiza.  Indeed,  Mr.  Mackensen  described  the  species  as  intermediate  between  these  two,  and  all  three 
species  are  often  found  growing  together.   O.  leptocar pa  originally  came  from  San  Antonio,  Texas. 

llltislratious:  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1911:  pi.  3,  4,  B;  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  75,  f .  5  to  7 ; 
Karsten,  Deutsch.  Fl.  f.  501.  13,  13a,  13b;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  78:  pi.  (13,  14),  all  as  Opuntia 
dulch.  Bull.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:  pi.  3,  f.  I,  this  as  Opnutia  cacanapa:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi.  4, 
in  part,  this  as  Opuntia  tricolor:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi.  9;  pi.  13,  f.  1,  these  two  as  Opuntia  texana. 
Bull.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:  pi.  2,  f.  1 ;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi.  2,  f.  1;  pi.  11;  pi.  13,  f.  4,  all  these 
as  Opuntia  suharmata.  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  pi.  19;  pi.  20,  in  part,  these  two  as  Opuntia  alta.  Rep. 
Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  pi.  21;  pi.  22,  in  part  these  two  as  Opuntia  gomei.  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  pi.  28, 
this  as  Opuntia  sinclairii.  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  pi.  9,  in  part;  pi.  10;  Journ.  Agr.  Research  4.  pi.  f., 
these  three  as  Opuntia  cyanella.  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  pi.  22:  pi.  9,  in  part;  pi.  16,  17,  these  three  as 
Opuntia  gdvoalba.  Bull.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:  f.  1.  Journ.    Hered.   Washington,   6^:    f.    19,   as   Opuntia 


BRITTON     AND    ROSE 


PLATE    XXXI 


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M.  E.  Eaton  del. 


Flowerins;  joints  of  Opmitia  Uudheimeri. 

1.     Orange-flowered  race.  2.    Red-flowered  race. 

(%  Natural  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  167 

ellisiaiia:  Journ.  Hered.  Washington  6*:  f.  15,  16,  as  O.  cacanapa:  Journ.  Hered.  Washington  6':  f.  17, 
18,  as  O.  snbarmata;  Journ.  Hered.  Washington  5:  233.  f.  13;  Schulz,  500  Wild  Fl.  San  Antonio  pi.  12. 
Plate  XXXI,  figure  1,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  collected  near  Brownsville, 
Texas,  by  Dr.  Rose  in  191.^;  figure  2  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  by  the 
same  collector  at  the  same  locality;  plate  xxxii,  figure  1,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a 
plant  sent  by  Mr.  M.  Mackensen  from  the  type  locality  of  O.  leptoccirpu  in  1910;  figure  2 
shows  the  fruit  of  the  same. 
180.  Opuntia  cantabrigiensis  Lynch,  Gard.  Chron.  III.  33  :  98.     1903. 

Opiinti.i  ens^elmiUinu  ciiiia  Griffiths  and  Hare,  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  44.  1906. 
OpuiilijcmiJ  Britton  and  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  529.  1908. 
Rounded  bushy  plant,  1  to  2  meters  high;  joints  orbicular  to  obovate,  12  to  20  cm.  long,  rather  pale 
bluish  green;  areoles  remote,  large,  filled  with  brown  wool;  spines  usually  3  to  6  but  sometimes  more, 
somewhat  spreading,  acicular,  yellow  with  brown  or  reddish  bases,  1.5  to  4  cm.  long;  glochids  numer- 
ous, large,  1  cm.  long  or  more,  yellowish,  not  forming  a  brush;  flowers  5  to  6  cm.  long,  yellowish  with 
reddish  centers;  upper  areoles  on  the  ovary  bearing  long  bristles;  stigma-lobes  green;  fruit,  globular, 
about  4  cm.  in  diameter,  purple;  seeds  numerous,  small,  4  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locjlity:  Described  from  specimen  in  Cambridge  Botanic  Garden,  England. 
Distiihi/t/oii:  Very  common  in  the  States  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  Queretaro,  and  Hidalgo, 
Mexico. 

Professor  Duncan  S.  Johnson  found  this  species  naturalized  on  sand  dunes  at  Beaufort,  North  Carolina,  in  1899, 
and   Dr.   Small   studied   it   there   in    1922.   At   Cambridge,   England,   it  passed   through   many   winters  out   of  doors. 

Opuntia  chvysiicdjithd  (Berger,  Hort.  Mortol.  231.  1912,  name  only,)  an  undescribed 
species,  probably  belongs  here. 

Our  determination  of  the  identity  of  O.  caiilubrigieinii  and  O.  cuija  is  based  on  a  living  plant  of  the 
former  received  from  Mr.  Lynch. 

lUtistratioiis:  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  2,  as  Opuntia  eugeh)iaiiuii  cuija:  Gard.  Chron. 
III.  30:  f.  123,  as  OpiiiUia  engelmannii:  Gartenwelt   10:  560;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  33:  98.  f.  42. 

Figure  204  represents  joints  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Ixmiquilpan,  Hidalgo,  Mexico, 
in  1905. 


2u.).— (.).  ranlabriKiciisls.       X0.4.  V\g.  205.— O.  procumbcns.      X"  .s. 

181.  Opuntia  procumbens  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  292.     1856. 


168 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Stems  low  and  spreading,  forming  broad  masses;  joints  "always  edgewise,"  orbicular,  2  to  4  or 
even  5  dm.  in  diameter,  yellowish  green,  somewhat  glaucous;  areoles  distant  (3  to  5  cm.  apart),  large, 
bearing  long  yellow  glochids;  spines  1  to  5,  spreading,  2.5  to  5  cm.  long,  yellow,  lighter  above,  flattened; 
flowers  said  to  be  yellow;  fruit  red,  juicy. 

Type  locality:  San  Francisco  Mountains  to  Cactus  Pass,  Arizona. 

Distiibiitio}!:  Northern  Arizona. 

Tiiis  species  has  long  been  wanting  or  poorly  represented  in  our  great  herbaria.  Dr. 
Rose  collected  it  near  Flagstaff,  Arizona,  and  the  above  description  is  largely  drawn  from 
his  notes;  but  his  material  was  lost.    In  1913  it  was  again  collected  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Goldman. 

llliistrat'iun:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  6,  f.  4,  5. 

Figure  205  is  copied  from  the  illustration  above  cited. 

182.  Opuntia  caiiada  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  90.     1909. 

Plant  about  1  meter  high,  with  many  erect  or  ascending  branches,  forming  a  broad  top;  joints 
ovate  to  obovate,  16  to  22  cm.  long,  smooth,  and  shining;  leaves  subulate,  1  cm.  long;  spines  various, 
white  to  yellow,  flattened,  sometimes  twisted;  glochids  few  on  young  joints,  very  abundant  on  old 
ones;  flowers  yellow  with  red  or  orange  centers:  style  white  to   reddish;   stigma-lobes  green;    fruit   red. 

Type  locality:  Foothills  of  the 
Santa  Rita   Mountains,   Arizona. 

DiitYibution:  Southeastern  Ari- 
zona. 

Dr.  Griffiths  comments  on  the 
close  relationship  of  this  plant  to  0. 
hie  vis. 

UI/isti\itioi!s:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard. 
20:  pi.  2,  f.  6;  pi.  6,  in  part;  pi.  13, 
f.  2,  12. 

Figure  206  is  copied  from  the 
second  illustration  above  cited. 

183.  Opuntia  pyriformis  Rose,  Contr. 
U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  292.  1909. 
Plant  3  to  5  meters  high,  with  widely 

spreading  branches,  the  lower  ones  almost 
resting  on  the  ground  and  3  to  5  meters 
long;  joints  obovate,  thick,  18  cm.  long 
or  more;  areoles  closely  set,  small;  spines 
1  or  2,  on  old  joints  more,  usually  reflexed, 
slender,  weak,  yellow,  10  to  22  mm.  long; 
flowers  yellow;  fruit  4  cm.  long,  some- 
what tuberculate,  spineless,  its  large  are- 
oles crowded  with  brown  hairs  forming 
hemispherical  cushions. 

Type  locality:  Hacienda  de  Ce- 
dros,  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Zacateais,  Mexico.  ''"■•  -^07.— Opunii.i  pynfomns.    xo.v 

The  type  of  this  species  is  in  the  U.  S.  National  Herbarium.  It  is  known  only  from 
the  original  collection  of  Professor  F.  E.  Lloyd,  made  in  1908. 

Illustrations:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  12:  f.  35;  pi.  26. 

Figure  207  is  copied  from  the  second  illustration  above  cited. 
183a.  Opuntia  bonplandii   (HBK.)   Weber.    (See  Appendix,  p.  223.) 

The  three  following  described  species  may  belong  to  this  series: 
Opuntia   beckeriana   Schumann,   Gesamtb.   Kakteen  722.     1S9S. 

The  plant  on  which  this  species  is  based  was  sent  to  Dr.  Schumann  from  a  garden  at 
Bordighera,   Italy,   and   its  origin  is  unknown;   Dr.   Schumann  thought   that   it  might  have 


OPUNTIA.  169 

come  from  Mexico.    From  the  description  it  may  belong  to  our  series  Dillenianae,  but  we 
are  unable  to  associate  it  with  any  species  known  to  us;  the  ovary  is  described  as  compressed 
and  tubercled. 
Ophntia  prostrata  spinosior   (Schumann,  Gesamtb,  Kakteen  723.  1H98)  seems  to  have  been  a  garden 

name  which  Schumann  would  refer  to  O.  hecker'uina. 
Opuntia  ANAHUACiiNsis  Griffiths,  Bull.  Terr.  Club  43:  92.     1916. 

A  low,  reclining  or  prostrate  plant,  up  to  5  dm.  high,  1.5  meters  broad;  joints  obovate,  glos.sy,  yel- 
lowish green,  27  cm.  long,  13  cm.  broad;  spines  yellow  or  becoming  white,  1  or  2,  porrect,  flattened, 
twisted,  2  or  3  cm.  long;  flowers  yellow;  style  white;  stigma-lobes  6,  white;  fruit  dark  purplish  red, 
pyriform,  7  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Anahuac,  Texas. 

Distribution:  Known  only  from  the  type  locality,  at  the  mouth  of  Trinity  River,  east- 
ern Texas. 
Opuntia  megalantha  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  530.     1916. 

A  tall,  erect,  open-branching  plant,  2  meters  high  or  more;  joints  obovate,  glaucous,  grayish  green, 
21  cm.  long,  14  cm.  broad;  spines  yellow,  1  to  3,  or  even  5  or  6  on  old  wood,  the  longest  often  4  to  5 
cm.  long;  flowers  yellow,  10  to  11  cm.  in  diameter;  petals  5  cm.  long,  obovate;  style  white;  stigma-lobes 
8  or  9,  white  or  tinged  with  green;  fruit  dark  red. 

Known  only  from  cultivated  plants  received  from  the  Berlm  Botanical  Garden,  where 
it  was  grown  as  Opuntia  bcrgeriiina. 

Series  16.   MACDOUGALIANAE.  siisi^r^^^ 

Erect,  mostly  tall  species,  with  flat,  broad,  and  ^.^^^i^^  s^   ^aCT    -^T^  ^^^^^ 

thin,  persistent  joints,  the  epidermis,  at  least  that  of  O^  ^  J'                                  ^^.c 

the  ovary,  pubescent  or  puberulent.   The  spines,  when  'y^'  V               1^      ^     a^     1    ^^^^ 

present,  yellow.   There  are  about  half  a  dozen  species,  -^W  \  /        V                                       ^^a*^ 

natives  of  central  and  southern  Mexico.  ^        *      w         \      *^    ®i     i_   ^,  ^^~  ^ 

Key  to  Species  ^F    ^  ^v     ^'  ^^ 

Joints   merely   finely   puberulent   or  "]    -\J  "^  ^\     ^;-    j//  sf^ 

glabrous;  spines  1.5  cm.  long  or  3  ^      ly  ^  >5J.— _^t- 

less;  ovary  velvety \%\.0.  dmjngtnus  ^^fl  ^         V  '?  ^  \      ^^^ 

Joints   distinctly   pubescent;    spines  X  ^^  "^        ^     ij^  ^# 

2  to  3  cm.  long.  /7,      ^  \i  {         ^  /l  -^M 

Petals  red.  A^\       u         ^      ^  /«  '!> 

Style  shorter  than   the   petals    185.  O.  j/rw/ifj  -\^'^         ~^^  7       -  X         A  fY 

Style    as    long   as    the   petals.    \S6.  O.  jffinis  -^  •,  \  '       ""*^    5^  t^     --^      t 

Petals  yellow.  V  -4        ^  X  -v     J^ 

Spines   acicular,    at   first   yel-  \   "^  {       -/        >       '^      'T\W 

low,  soon  white 187.  O.  macdoiigjVhin.i  Jk  -fl.  ^      ^      ^         ^y>^      i^ 

Spines  subulate.  "Xa       T    ./    ,,,  '^  s       n.     if 

Petals   retuse;   areoles   of  TV     b        '      *  /V'^T'iw 

ovary    many,    approxi-  ^    '     H  J*^'      J^-K      ^^ 

mate \9,%.0.  vdulinj  \       '      A      '    \     -i^  M 

Petals  mucronate;  areoles  \fK        'o         ^iv/C^  ' 

of    ovary    few,    distant    1S9.  O.  tri!co.\ii  aV    'i^        \a       'A      sW 

184.    Opuntia  durangensis  Britton  and  Rose,  \-^^  /   ^l^ 

Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  518.    1908.  ^^n-i-L^ 

Joints  broadly  obovate,  about   20  cm,   long,    16  f'^'   208.-Opuntia  durangensis.    xO.i. 

cm.  broad,  pale  green,  glabrous  or  minutely  puberulent,  bearing  numerous  areoles;  areoles  1  to  2  cm, 
apart,  elevated;  spines  3  to  5  at  an  areole,  short,  1.5  cm.  long  or  less,  pungent,  spreading,  yellow,  but  in 
age  becoming  darker;  glochids  brown,  2  to  3  mm.  long;  flowers  yellow,  5  cm.  long;  petals  broad,  apicu- 
late;  ovary  3  to  4  cm,  long,  finely  pubescent,  bearing  many  areoles  with  numerous  glochids  and  a  few 
spines ;  fruit  white  or  red ;  seeds  about  3  mm,  broad. 

Type  locality:  Near  Durango,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Central  Mexico. 

This  species  was  collected  by  the  late  Dr.  E.  Palmer  in  1912,  but  he  did  not  record  the 
size  and  habit  of  the  plant.   The  joints  suggest  a  large,  bushy  species. 

Figure  208  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen. 


170 


THE   CACTACEAE. 


185.  Opuntia  atropes  Rose,  Smiths,  Misc.  Coll.  50:  518.     1908. 

Plant  1  to  3  meters  high,  much  branched ;  joints  oblong  to  obovate,  20  to  30  cm.  long,  deep  green, 
softly  pubescent;  young  joints  somewhat  glossy,  leaves  4  to  5  mm.  long,  acuminate,  pubescent,  standing 
almost  at  right  angles  to  the  joints,  the  tips  reddish,  areoles  circular,  filled  with  short  tawny  wool;  young 
spines  white  or  yellowish ;  old  spines  3  to  6  cm.  long,  somewhat  angled,  standing  almost  at  right  angles 
to  the  joints,  dark  yellow  or  brown  at  the  base,  much  lighter,  often  white  above;  glochids  nu.T.erous, 
long,  yellow;  petals  reddish;  ovary  pubescent,  covered  with  large  cushion-like  areoles  bearmg  long 
glochids  near  the  top  but  with  few  spines  or  none,  truncate  at  apex. 
Type  locality:  Lava  beds  near  Yautepec,  Morelos,  Mexico. 
Distributioji:  Central  Mexico. 

186.  Opuntia  affinis  Grififiths,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  27:  27.     1914. 

"A  low,  arborescent  species,  from  125  cm.  high  with  us  at  4  years  of  age  to  2  m.  or  more  in  its 
natural  habitat;  joints  obovate,  13  by  35  cm.,  broadly  rounded  above  and  gradually  narrowed  below, 
densely  silky,  villous  to  the  touch,  and  villous  nature  plainly  visible  when  viewed  in  proper  light,  slightly 
raised  at  areoles,  the  tubercles  being  surrounded  by  a  sunken  dark-green  line;  leaves  small,  subulate, 
pointed,  scarcely  2  mm.  in  length;  areole  small,  obovate,  3  mm.  long,  25  to  30  mm.  apart,  white  to 
gray;  spicules  light  straw-colored,  at  first  not  conspicuous  but  rather  in  a  connivent  tuft,  3  mm.  long; 
spines  absent  below  and  1  to  5  in  upper  five-sixths  of  joint,  straw-colored,  becoming  white  the  second 
year,  the  longest  3  cm.  and  others  much  shorter,  increasing  in  age  in  both  length  and  numbers,  at  3  years 


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..i^^^^^^^s,*' 

■^-■■-.■■■■^? 

i»;.....^.;.siiSMH 

'"'■    >f||}jt;^. 

- 

Fig.  2U9.— Opuntia  macJoiiga 


OPUNTIA. 


171 


often  U)  in  number  and  some  6  cm.  long,  divergent,  flattened,  angular,  twisted;  flowers  dull  dark-red 
in  bud,  with  stigma  protruding  the  day  before  the  petals  spread,  small,  about  3  cm.  in  diameter  when 
opened,  petals  20  to  2  5  mm.  long,  shghtly,  when  at  all,  recurved,  ribs  of  petals  red  and  wings  orange, 
filaments  greenish  below  and  pink  above,  style  bright-glossy  red,  stigma  dull  greenLsh  red,  4-parted, 
equaling  the  petals  in  length;  ovary  small,  subglobose,  deeply  pitted,  15  to  17  mm.  in  diameter,  with 
small  subcircular  to  slightly  transversely  elongated,  dirty  brown  areoles,  4  mm.  apart;  fruit  small,  sub- 
globose,  red." 

Type  locality:  State  of  Oaxaca,  Mexico. 

Disty'ihut'iou:  Known  only  from  type  locality. 

Our  examination  of  the  type  specimen  of  this  species  showed  that  it  is  closely  related 
to  OpHut'id  uidcdoiigal'iana.  differing  in  the  color  of  its  petals,  which  may  not  be  a  specific 
character. 


Fig.  210. — Opuntia  macdougaliana. 

187.  Opuntia  macdougaliana  Rose,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  516.     1908. 

Opuntiu   micrartlnj   Gritfilhs,   Monatsschr.     Kakteenk.    23:   130.    1913. 

Plant  about  4  meters  high,  with  a  distinct  cylindric  trunk  branching  from  near  the  base;  joints 
oblong,  30  cm.  long  by  8  to  10  cm.  broad,  softly  pubescent;  areoles  distinct,  small;  spines  generally  4, 
one  much  longer  (2.5  to  4  cm.  long),  somewhat  flattened,  yellowish,  becoming  whitish  in  age;  glo- 
chids  short,  numerous,  yellow;  fruit  globular  to  oblong,  5  cm.  long,  the  surface  divided  into  diamond- 
shaped  plates,  red,  with  a  broad  deep  cup  at  apex,  the  numerous  small  rounded  areoles  filled  with  clumps 
of  yellow  glochids,  very  rarely  with  one  or  two  spines. 

Type  locality:  Near  Tehuacan,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Southern  Mexico. 

Figure  209  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant  taken  by  Dr.  MacDougal  at  EI  Riego, 
Tehuacan,  Mexico,  in  1906;  figure  210  represents  a  plant  grown  from  a  cutting  of  the  type. 


172 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


188.  Opuntia  velutina  Weber  in  Gosselin,  Bull.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  10:  389.     1901. 

Opuntia  nehonii  Rose,  Smiths,  Misc.  Coll.  50:  516.  19U8. 
Stems  1  to  4  meters  high;  joints  flattened,  oblong  to  pear-shap-.d  in  outline,  15  to  20  cm.  long 
by  10  to  15  cm.  broad  near  the  top,  pubescent,  pale  yellowish  green  in  herbarium  specimens;  areoles 
2  to  3  cm.  apart;  spines  2  to  6,  yellow,  becoming  white  in  age,  v:ry  unequal,  the  longer  ones  3  to  4 
cm.  long;  bristles  many,  yellow,  becoming  brownish;  flowers  ralhc-r  small;  petals  yellow,  1  to  3  cm. 
long;  ovary  pubescent,  bearing  many  yellowish  brown  bristles;  filaments  red;  stigma-lobes  pale  green; 
fruit  "dark  red." 

Type  locality:  In  Guerrero,  Mexico. 
Distributio}i:  Southern  Mexico. 

Plate  XXXII,  figure  3,  represents  a  flowcrini;    joint   of 
Mexico,  by  Dr.  MacDougal  and  Dr.  Rose  in   1906. 


plant   collected   at  Tchuacan, 


189.  Opuntia  wilcoxii  sp.  nov. 

A  tall,  bushy  plant,  1  to  2  meters  high,  very  much  branched;  joints  oblong,  thinnish,  large,  2  cm. 
long,  dark  green,  more  or  less  purplish  about  the  large  areoks,  finely  puberulent;  glochids  numerous, 
long,  yellow;  spines  1  to  3,  one  very  long  (5  to  6  cm.  long),  porrect,  white  or  somewhat  yellowish; 
flower,   including  ovary,   6  cm.   long,   yellow ;   petals  oblong,  mucronate ;  ovary  bearing  few  large  areoles. 


style    thick. 


long. 


these  filled  with  brown  wool  and  yellow  glochids; 
stigma-lobes,  fruit  pubescent,  4  cm.  long. 

Very  common  on  the  hills  in  the  coastal  plain  oi  west- 
ern Mexico  from  southern  Sonora  to  southern  Sinaloa, 
Mexico,  where  it  was  frequently  collected  by  Rose,  Stand- 
ley,  and  Russell  in  1910;  their  No.  13346,  with  flower,  from 
Fuerte,  Sinaloa,  is  selected  as  the  type  of  the  species.  It  is 
named  for  Dr.  Glover  B.  Wilcox,  who  first  sent  in  living 
specimens  in  1909- 

Figure  211  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen. 

To  this  series  belong  two  plants  which  we  have  not 
been  able  to  identify  but  are  here  briefly  characterized: 

The  first,  a  very  peculiar  species,  collected  by  Rose, 
Standley,  and  Russell,  March  14,  1910  (No.  12853),  on 
the  dry  hills  near  Alamos,  Sonora,  Mexico,  is  unlike  any  of 
the  described  species.  It  is  living  both  in  Washington  and 
New  York,  but  it  has  not  done  well  in  cultivation.  It  may 
be  described  as  follows; 

Bushy;  joints  oblong,  thickish,  pale  green  in  color,  with  very 
short  puberulence,  nearly  or  quite  spinele.ss;  glochids  yellowish  or 
greenish,  numerous;  young  areoles  brown  in  the  center,  white- 
wooly  in  the  margin;  flowers  and  fruit  not  known. 

Dr.  H.  H.  Rusby  collected  the  second  species  on  the  Balsas  River,  southern  Mexico.  It 
comes  from  the  region  of  ().  vclntiihi,  but  we  do  not  know  its  flowers.  It  may  be  described  as 
follows: 

Joints  oblong,  18  cm.  long,  but  cultivated  specimens  smaller,  usually  obovate,  dark  green;  spines 
few,  short,  at  first  white;  young  areoles  large,  bordered  with  white  wool,  bearing  the  spines  and  glo- 
chids from  the  center. 

Living  specimens  are  growing  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  under  No.  32811. 


-Opunt, 


Series  17.  TOMENTOSAE. 

Tall,  erect,  pubescent  or  puberulent  species,  with    flat    persistent    joints 
:e.    We  know  three  species,  natives  of  Mexico  and  Guatemala. 


.'hen    present, 


BRITTON  AND  ROSE 


Upper  part  of  flowering  joint  of  Opnnt'ia  leptocarpd.      3.    Flowerint;  joint  of  OpHiitu  iclnHii.i. 
Fruit  of  tiie  same.  4.    Upper  part  of  joint  of  Opitntia  niegacitiilh, 

(All  three-fourths  size) 


OPUNTIA. 


173 


Key  to  Species 

Juints  narrowly  obovate. 

Joints  grayish  green,  densely  velvety 190.  O.  lomentosa 

Joints  bright  green,  minutely  puberulent l^l.  O.  lomenlella 

Joints  broadly  obovate 192.  O.  guHanchi 

190.  Opunda  tomentosa  Salm-Dyck,  Obsei\    Bot   3:  8.     1822. 

CmUi-.  lunuiitosiis  Link,  Enum.  Hort.   Berol.  2:  24.      1822. 

Opiinli.i  ublongata  Wendland  in  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  161.      1837. 

Opiinlij  ulericu  Griffiths,  Monatsschr.  Kaktetnk.  23:  138.  1913. 
Becoming  3  to  6  meters  high  or  more,  with  a  broad  top  and  a  smooth  trunk  10  to  30  cm.  in 
diameter;  joints  oblong  to  narrowly  obovate,  10  to  20  cm.  long,  velvety  pubescent,  somewhat  tubercu- 
late  when  young;  giochids  yellow;  spines  usually  wanting  but  sometimes  1  or  more  appear;  flowers 
orange-colored,  4  to  5  cm.  long;  filaments  white  or  rose-colored;  style  dark  carmine,  longer  than  the 
stamens;  stigma-lobes  5  or  6,  white;  fruit  ovoid,  red,  sweetish;  seeds  4  mm.  broad. 


Fig.  212. — Opuntia  tomentosa. 

Type  locality:  Not  cited;  doubtless  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Central  Mexico  and  as  an  escape  in  Australia. 

This  species  was  first  described  from  cultivated  plants  and  has  long  been  a  favorite. 
When  grown  out  of  doors,  as  it  is  in  Bermuda,  it  forms  a  large  and  conspicuous  plant.  It 
is  usually  nearly  or  quite  spineless,  but  plants  which  come  from  the  Valley  of  Mexico  are 
often  spiny. 

According  to  J.  H.  Maiden,  this  plant  had  been  sent  to  him  under  the  unpublished 
name  Opuntia  lurida,  and  as  O.  puhescens. 

Illustrations:  Agr.  Gaz.  N.  S.  W.  23:  pi.  opp.  1028;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  16:  121; 
De  CandoUe,  PI.  Succ.  Hist.  2:  pi.  137  [A,  B},  this  last  as  Cactus  cochtnilliicr  {\uie  Berger) ; 
Blanc,  Cacti  82.  No.  2200,  as  Opuntia  lurida;  Reiche,  Elem.  Bot.  f.  163;  Gartenwelt  II:  75. 


174  THE  CACTACEAE. 

Plate  XXXIII,  figure  1,  represents  a  fruiting  joint  of  a  plant  raised  from  seeds  received 
by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture.  Fig.  212  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant 
near  St.  Georges,  Bermuda,  taken  by  Stewardson  Brown  in  1912. 

191.  Opuntia  tomentella  Berger,  Monatsschr.  Kaktcenk.  22:  147.     1912. 

Bushy;  joints  obovate  to  oblong,  20  to  30  cm.  long,  9  to  15  cm.  broad,  light  green,  somewhat 
shining,  finely  puberulent;  areoles  about  3  cm.  apart,  small;  spines  1  or  2,  acicular,  white,  short  (7  to 
10  mm.  long),  porrect,  sometimes  wanting;  glochids  few;  flowers  numerous,  5  to  6  cm.  long;  petals 
obovate,  reddish  yellow;  filaments  yellowish  green;  style  rose-colored;  stigma-lobes  white;  ovary  tomen- 
tose,  armed  with  numerous  black  glochids;  fruit  oblong,  red,  sour. 

Type  locality:  In  Guatemala. 

Distribution:  Guatemala. 

This  species  was  distributed  by  the  late  F.  Fichlam,  who  sent 
plants  both  to  Washington  and  to  La  Mortola,  those  sent  to  La 
Mortola  being  used  by  Mr.  Berger  for  his  description.  The  species 
is  perhaps  near  the  common  Mexican  species  O.  tonieutosa,  but 
does  not  grow  so  tall,  and  the  tomentum  is  not  so  dense  nor  so  soft. 

Figure  213  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  in  Guatemala 
by  F.  Eichlam  in  1909. 

192.  Opuntiaguilanchi  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.Gard.  19:265.    1908. 

Becoming  1.5  to  2  meters  high,  often  with  a  distinct  trunk  1.5  to 
2.5  cm.  in  diameter;  joints  broadly  obovate,  14  to  16  cm.  wide,  20  to  24 
cm.  long,  minutely  pubescent;  spines  at  first  white,  slightly  flattened,  the 
longest  2  cm.  long;  glochids  light  yellow;  fruit  subglobose,  4  cm.  in  dia- 
meter, pubescent,  variously  colored,  aromatic. 

Type  locality:  Near  the  city  of  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 
Distribution:  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 

Series  18.  LEUCOTRICHAE. 

This  series  is  restricted  to  a  single  species.  Schumann  grouped  as 
Chaelophorae,  O.  leitcotricha  with  O.  tirsiini.  the  latter  a  species  with  simi- 
lar long  bristles  on  the  stem  but  otherwise  very  different,  it  being  dry- 
fruited.  Opinitia  lei/colricha  is  characterized  by  its  long,  weak,  hair-like 
or  bristle-like  spines  on  many  of  the  joints,  especially  the  stem  and  very  ^"^ 
old  joints.  The  fruit  of  this  plant  is  very  different  from  that  of  related 
series  in  that  the  pulp  is  fragrant  and  does  not  come  free  from  the  rind  when  mature. 

193.  Opuntia  leucotricha  De  Candolle,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  119.      1828. 

opuntia  fult'ispiua  Salm-Dyck  in   Pfeiffer,   Enum.  Cact.  161.     1837. 

Opuntia  leucotricha  jidvispina  Weber  in  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  Nachtr.  157.  190?. 
Often  3  to  5  meters  high,  with  a  large  top;  trunk  as  well  as  the  older  joints  covered  with  long 
white  bristles;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular,  1  to  2  cm.  long,  pubescent;  areoles  closely  set,  the  upper 
part  filled  with  yellow  glochids,  the  lower  part  at  first  with  only  1  to  3  weak  white  spines;  flowers,  in- 
cluding ovary,  4  to  5  cm.  long;  petals  yellow,  broad;  ovary  with  numerous  areoles,  the  upper  ones 
bearing  long,  bristly  glochids  (1  cm.  long);  style  red;  stigma-lobes  green;  fruit  variable,  4  to  6  cm. 
long,  white  or  red,  the  rind  not  easily  coming  off  from  the  pulp,  aromatic,  edible. 

Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Central  Mexico. 

Opuntia  erythrocentron  Lemaire  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  492.  1846)  was  given  as  a  syn- 
onym of  O.  \ulvispina. 

Opuntia  leucosticta  Wendland   (Pfeiffer,   Enum.  Cact.  167,  1837)  probably  belongs  here. 

Opuntia  leucacantha  Link  and  Otto  (Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck,  362.  1834),  published 
first  in  1834 — although  the  name  occurs  in  literature  as  early  as  1830  (Verh.  Ver.  Beford. 


ERITTON  AND  f 


PLATE  XXXI 


M.  E.  Eaton  del. 

1.    Upper  part  of  joint  of  Opiinl'i.j  Imiieiilos.i.        2,  3.    Flowering  joint  and  branch  of  Opnnt'i.i  biM/l/eiisis. 
4.    Joint  of  Grtisoiiia  bradtiana.    (All  %  size.) 


OPUNTIA. 


175 


Gartenb.  6:  434.  1830) — which  was  later  taken  up  as  Consolea  leucacantha  by  Lemaire  (Rev. 
Hort.  1862:  174.  1862),  seems  to  belong  here  rather  than  to  O.  spinoshsivut.  If  it  came  from 
Mexico,  as  reported,  it  could  not  be  0.  sphiosissiDia  or  any  of  its  relatives,  for  none  of  them 
is  known  from  Mexico. 

Opuntia  subjevox  Schott  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  167.  1837)  was  given  as  a  synonym  of 
this  species,  while  0.  leucacantha  laevior  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  47.  1845) 
and  O.  leucacantha  subjerox  Salm-Dyck  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  497.  1846)  were  supposed 
to  be  based  on  O.  subjerox. 

Opuntia  leucantha  (De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:  474.  1828),  unpublished,  is  doubtless  the 
same  as  O.  leucacantha. 


4. — Opuntia    leucotricha. 

Opuntia  fulvispi/ia  laeriur  Salm-Dyck  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  164.  1837)  and  O.  jul- 
rispina  hudia  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  65.  1850)  are  given  as  synonyms  of  O. 
leucotricha:  while  O.  rufescens  Salm-Dyck  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  493.  1846)  is  given  as 
a  synonym  of  julvispina  laevior;  all  these  seem  to  belong  here. 

This  is  called  durasnilla  in  Mexico.  It  is  grown  in  Bermuda  under  the  name  of  Aaron's 
Beard. 

Illustrations:  Engler  and  Prantl,  Pflanzenfam.  3''':  f.  56,  J;  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta. 
Bull.  60:  pi.  4,  f.  1,  2;  Mollers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9.,  No.  4  as  Opuntia  leuca- 
cantha; Cassel's  Diet.  Gard.  2:  138.  Bull.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:  pi.  6,  f.  2;  pi.  7,  f.  2;  U.  S. 
Dept.  Agr.  Bur.  PI.  Ind.  Bull.  262:  pi.  4;  pi.  5,  f.  1. 

Dr.  John  K.  Small  has  found  this  plant  naturalized  in  a  hammock  south  of  Fort  Pierce, 
Florida,  where  it  is  reported  as  established  during  the  Seminole  wars. 

Plate  xxxiv,  figure  1,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  in  the  collection  ot  the  New 


176  THE   CACTACEAE. 

York  Botanical  Garden.  Figure  214  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  phint  grown  from  a  cutting 
received  from  the  collection  of  M.  Simon,  St.  Ouen,  Paris,  France,  in  1901. 
Series  19-  ORBICULATAE. 
We  have  retained  the  series  Criiiiferae.  although  changing  its  name  to  Oibicula/ae.  but  we  have 
excluded  O.  scheeii,  which  was  placed  here  by  Schumann.  The  species  are  characterized  by  long  hairs 
produced  from  the  areoles.  The  species  retained  in  the  series  are  not  closely  related;  while  others,  like 
O.  niacioceiilra.  in  other  series,  sometimes  produce  long  hairs  from  the  areoles  in  the  seedling  stage, 
and  O.  hypt'iacaiuha  and  some  other  species  have  a  few  hairs  at  the  areoles  of  mature  joints. 

Key  TO  Species. 

Hairs  from  the  areoles  of  young  plants  long  and  white,  long-persistcni ;  plant   low    l()\.  O.  orhiiuLiLi 
Hairs  from  the  areoles  of  young  joints  of  old  plants  early  deciduous;  plant  tall...    195.  O.  pilifem 

194.  Opuntia  orbiculata  Salm-Dyck  in  Pfeifter,  Enuni.  Cact.  156.     1837. 

Opunlia  crinifera  Salm-Dyck   in   Pfeiffer,   Enum.   Cact.    157.      1837. 
Opuntia  crinifera  lanigera  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.   157.      1837. 
Opunlia  lanigera  Salm-Dyck,   Cact.   Hort.   Dyck.    1849.   65.     1850. 

A  plant  without  a  very  definite  trunk,  about  1  meter  high,  often 
broader  than  high;  joints  green  or  bluish  green,  orbicular  to  obovate, 
sometimes  spatulate,  about  1 5  cm.  long ;  leaves  subulate,  2  to  3  mm. 
long;  areoles  small,  in  seedlings  and  young  plants  producing  long 
white  hairs  or  wool  long-persistent;  spines  acicular,  several,  yellow; 
flowers  yellow. 

Type  locality:  Cited  as  Brazil,  but  undoubtedly  by  error. 

D'ntribut'io)!:  Northern  Mexico. 

Opuntia  senilis  Parmenteer  is  given  by  Pfeiffer 
(Enum.  Cact.  157.  1837)  as  a  synonym  of  O.  crinijera. 
Al.  1845)  as  a  synonym  of  O.  lanigera.  They  doubtless 
47.  1845)  as  a  synonym  of  0.  langiera.  They  doubtless 
both  belong  here. 

Opuntia    vjetternichii    Piccioli     (Salm-Dyck,    Cact. 
Hort.   Dyck.    1844.  46.     1845)    and   O.  orbiculata  met- 
ternichii  Salm-Dyck   (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.   1849.  68. 
1850),   names  without   descriptions,   doubtless   be- 
long here. 

We  have  studied   living  plants  sent  from  the 
Berlin  Botanical  Gardens  as  O.  crinifera  and  from       ' 
the  Botanical  Garden  of  Santiago,  Chile,  as  O.  orbic- 
ulata; the  plant  is  not  native  in  Chile. 

Illustrations:  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  11:    155,    as 
Kakteenk.  48.  f.  11,  as  Opuntia  crinifera;  Gartenwelt 

Figure  215  represents  joints  of  a  plant  sent  from  the  Berlin  Botanical  Garden  in  1902. 

195.  Opuntia  pilifera  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  894.     1898. 

Becoming  4  to  5  meters  high,  with  a  definite,  thick,  woody,  cylindric  trunk  and  a  broad,  rounded 
top;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular,  1  to  3  dm.  long,  obtuse  at  apex,  pale  green;  leaves  subulate,  about  5 
mm.  long;  areoles  2  to  3  cm.  apart,  scarcely  elevated;  spines  2  to  9,  white,  slightly  spreading,  acicular; 
the  outer  part  of  the  arcole  filled  with  nearly  white,  more  or  less  deciduous  hairs  2  to  3  cm.  long;  flowers 
large,  red;  areoles  on  the  ovary  bearing  brown  glochids  and  deciduous  hairs,  the  latter  especially  abun- 
dant towards  the  top  of  the  ovary;  fruit  red,  juicy. 

Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Puebla,  Mexico. 

No  definite  locality  was  given  for  this  species  when  it  was  first  described,  and  apparently 
no  type  material  was  preserved;  living  specimens  identified  by  Weber  are  still  grown  at  La 
Mortola,  Italy.  The  species  is  common  about  Tehuacan,  Mexico,  being  one  of  the  large 
forms  occurring  in  that  region.    It  is  common  in  all  large  greenhouse  collections. 


215. — Opuntia  orbiculata 


Opuntia    lanigera;    Schelle,    Handb. 
[I:  76,  as  O.  lanigera. 


Figure  216  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  in  the  collection  of  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden  grown  from  a  cutting  brought  by  Dr.  MacDougal  and  Dr.  Rose  from  Tehuacan, 
Mexico,  in  1906. 

Series  20.  FICUS-INDICAE. 

Large  plants,  usually  with  large,  nearly  spine- 
less green  joints;  spines,  when  present,  few,  small, 
white;  flowers  large,  usually  orange  to  yellow.  None 
of  the  species  is  definitely  known  in  the  wild  state, 
but  all  doubtless  originated  from  tropical  American 
ancestors,  and  they  may  all  represent  spineless  races 
of  plants  here  included  in  our  series  Streplaiwithae. 
Some  of  them  are  cultivated  for  their  fruit  and  others 
for  forage. 

Key  to  Species. 

Joints  obovate  to  elliptic,  comparatively 
broad,  more  or  less  glaucous. 
Joints  dull. 

Joints  thin,  up  to  5  dm.  long..    196.  O.  ficin-indica 
Joints  thick,  15  cm.  long  or  less    197.  O.  ciassa 

Joints  glossy  198.  O.  iindiiLita 

Joints    elongated,    comparatively    nar- 
row. 
Flowers    yellow;    joints    somewhat 

tuberculate    199.  O.  Linceolata 

Flowers  orange-red;   joints  not  tu- 
berculate     200.  O.  maximn 

196.    Opuntia  ficus-indica  (Linnaeus)  Miller, 
Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  2.     1768. 

CiUtui  ficus-indka  Linnaeus,  Sp.   PI.  -168.     1753 
Cactus    opuntia    Gussone,    Fl.    Sic.    Piodr.    559 
1827-8.    Not  Linnaeus. 

Opuntia   vulgaris   Tenore,    Syll.    Fl.   Neap.    239. 

ISM.    Not  Milk-r. 
Opniiiij  fiiin-lKiiharica  Berger,  Monatsschr.  Kak- 

teeiik.  22:    181.      1912. 

Large  and  bushy  or  sometimes  erect  and  tree- 
like and  then  with  a  definite  woody  trunk  up  to 
5  meters  high,  usually  with  a  large  top;  joints  ob 
long  to  spatulate-oblong,  usually  3  to  5  dm.  long, 
sometimes  even  larger;  areoles  small,  usually  spine 
less ;  glochids  yellow,  numerous,  soon  dropping  off ; 

leaves  subulate,  green,   3  mm.  long;  flowers  large,   normally  bright  yellow,   7   to   10  cm.   broad;   ovary 
5  cm.  long;  fruit  normally  red,  edible,   5  to  9  cm.  long,  with  a  low,  depressed  umbilicus. 

Type  locality:  Tropical  America. 

Distribution:  Native  home  not  known,  but  now  found  all  over  the  tropics  and  sub- 
tropics  either  as  cultivated  plants  or  as  escapes.    It  is  hardy  in  Bermuda  and  Florida. 

This  cactus  is  widely  cultivated  in  all  tropical  and  subtropical  countries,  where  it  is 
grown  for  its  fruits  and  for  forage.  It  has  run  wild  in  many  waste  places  along  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,  about  the  Red  Sea,  in  southern  Africa,  and  in  Mexico. 

We  have  not  attempted  to  list  the  many  named  garden  varieties  of  this  species,  \\hich 
are  sometimes  Latin  and  sometimes  English  in  form. 

Opuntia  aiiiyclaea  fiais-iiidica  (Berger,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  15:  154.  1905)  has 
never  been  described. 

The  origin  of  this  common,  cultivated  species  doubtless  dates  back  to  prehistoric 
times.  We  have  long  been  convinced  that  it  is  a  close  relative  of  the  Streptacanthae.  and 
have  kept  it  out  of  that  series  as  only  a  matter  of  convenience.  Mr.  A.  Berger  believed  it 
to  be  a  spineless  form  of  O.  aiityclaea,  which  is  now  a  well-established  species  in  certain  parts 
of  Italy.    Dr.  Griffiths  has  recently  figured  a    reversion   which   appeared   on   the   common 


Opuntia  pilifera. 


178 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


spineless  form  which  points  very  definitely  to  O.  vtegacautha  as  the  origin  of  this  form.    (See 
Reversion  in  Prickly  Pears,  Journ.  Hered.  5:  222.     1914.) 

Illustrations:  Amer.  Garden  11:  471;  Bull.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  31:  pi.  1;  pi.  2.  f.  1;  Cycl. 
Amer.  Hort.  Bailey  3:  f.  1543;  Dept.  Agr.  N.  S.  W.  Misc.  Publ.  253:  pi.  [1],  f.  1,  .^;  Diet. 
Gard.  Nicholson  2:  f.  753;  Dodon.  Pempt.  f.  10,  11;  Lemaire,  Cact.  f.  10;  Meehan's  Monthly 
10:  28;  Mem.  Acad.  Neap.  6:  pi.  1,  2;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  15:  151;  W.  Watson,  Cact. 
Cult.  f.  8,  in  part;  f.  80;  Engler  and  Prantl,  Pflanzenfam.  3"'':  f.  57,H;  Gard.  Chron.  III.  34: 
89.  f.  34;  92.  f.  42;  Karsten,  Deutsche  Fl.  887.  f.  501.  No.  10,  11;  ed.  2.  2:  456.  f.  605. 
No.  10.  11;  Journ.  Dept.  Agr.  S.  Austr.  13:  764;  Garten-Zeitung  4:  182.  f.  42,  No.  1; 
Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2598;  Watson,  Cact.  Cult,  ed  3  f.  57." 


Fio    Zi"  -  Opuniu  fiLUb  indica,  Cordoba,  Argentina. 

Figure  217  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  growing  at  Cordoba,  Argentina,  taken  by 
Paul  G.  Russell  in  1915;  figure  218  represents  the  fruit,  obtained  in  Bermuda  by  Dr.  Britton 
in  1913. 
197.    Opuntia  crassa  Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  81.     1819. 

Opinitia  parvula  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  364.      183-4. 
Opuntia  crassa  major  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.   153.      1837. 
Opuntia  glauca  Forbes,  Hort.  Tour  Germ.  158.     1837. 
Plant   1   to  2   meters  high,  somewhat  branched;   joints  ovate  to  oblong, 
8  to  12.5  cm.  long,  thick,  bluish  green,  glaucous;  areoles  bearing  brown  wool 
and  brown  glochids;  spines  wanting  or  sometimes   1   or  2,  acicular,   2.5   cm. 
long  or  less;  flowers  and  fruit  unknown. 

Type  locality:  Described  from  cultivated  specimens  supposed  to 
have  come  from  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Unknown  in  the  wild  state;  locally  found  in  culti- 
vation in  tropical  America. 

Haworth,  who  first  described  this  species,  thought  it  to  be  near 
0.  stricta.  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  153.  1837)  uses  0.  glaheyriuut  Hort. 
Berol.  as  a  synonym  of  O.  crassa  ma]or. 

Opuntia  parvula,  when  first  published,  was  supposed  to  be  native  Fig. 
of  Chile,  but  this  was  a  mistake.    Salm-Dyck  compared  the  species  with 
O.  crassa  and  O.  spinulijera,  but  says  it  is  thrice   smaller  than   either.     Schumann   refers   O. 
parvula  directly  to  O.  crassa,  which  disposition  we  follow. 

Figure  219  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  in  the  Organ  Mountains,  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
Brazil,  taken  by  Paul  G.  Russell  in  1915. 


OPUNTIA.  179 

198.  Opuntia  undulata  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  32.     1912. 

Opuntid  Kiiilosa  Griffiths,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  23.-  139.  1913. 
"Plant  tall,  large,  stout,  open-branching,  with  cylindrical  trunk,  often  30  cm.  or  more  m  diameter; 
joints  very  large,  obovate,  broadly  rounded  above,  widest  above  middle,  commonly  35  by  53  cm.,  firm, 
hard,  quite  fibrous,  dished,  wavy  or  flat,  glossy  light  yellowish  green  at  first,  but  changing  through  a 
a  darker  green  with  a  slight  touch  of  glaucous  to  scurfy  brown  on  old  trunks;  leaves  subcircular  in 
section,  subulate,  pointed,  usually  tinged  with  red  at  the  tip,  about  4  mm.  long,  upon  a  prominent 
tubercle  and  subtending  a  prominent  dark-brown  areole;  areoles  subcircular  to  ellipsoid  or  obovate, 
about  3.5  by  4.5  mm.,  gray,  5  to  6  cm.  apart;  spicules  yellow  in  a  short,  compact  tuft  m  upper  part 
of  areole,  about  1  mm.  long,  soon 
becoming  dirty  and  inconspicuous ; 
spines  white,  few,  short,  erect,  flat- 
tened, straight  or  twisted,  10  to  15 
mm.  long,  1  to  3  or  4,  mostly  one 
or  none;  fruit  large,  4  to  5  by  9  to 
10  cm.,  dull  red  to  slightly  tinged 
with  orange  and  pulp  streaked  with 
red  and  orange  when  rind  is  re- 
moved." 

Type  locality:  Described 
from  cultivated  plant  obtained 
at  Aguascalientes,  Mexico. 

Distribution:    Mexico. 

Illustrations:  Rep.  Mo.  Bot. 
Gard.  22:  pi.  11,  in  part;  pi.  12. 

We  have  doubtfully  referred 
to  this  species  plants  collected 
by  Dr.  Rose  on  the  west  coast 
of  Mexico,  where  they  were 
growing  wild;  this  is  some  dis- 
tance from  the  place  where  the 
type  was  obtained  from  culti- 
vated plants.  These  specimens  ^"''  -!"■  -<'rn"ii'i  '-'■''-■•.i- 
are  like  this  species  in  having  quite  glossy  joints  with  few  spines.  The  plants  were  not  in 
bloom  when  seen  by  Dr.  Rose  in  the  spring  of  1910. 

Dr.  Griffiths  has  changed  his  first  name,  0.  undulata,  on  account  of  the  use  of  that  name 
at  an  earlier  time,  which  was  not  accompanied,  however,  by  description. 

199.  Opuntia  lanceolata  Haworth,  Syn.  PI.  Succ.  192.     1812. 

Cactus  lanceolalus  Haworth,  Misc.   Nat.   188.      1803. 
Cactus  elongatus  Willdenow,  Enum.  PI.  Suppl.  34.     1813. 
Opuntia  elongata  Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  81.1819. 

Plants  tall,  much  branched;  joints  elongated,  3.5  cm.  long,  dull  green,  somewhat  tuberculate;  areoles 
distant,  small;  spines  if  present  few,  small,  white,  1  cm.  long  or  less;  glochids  yellow;  flowers  large, 
yellow. 

Type  locality:    In  South  America. 

Distribution:    Known  only  in  cultivation. 

We  have  combined  O.  lanceolata  and  O.  elongata,  although  there  is  a  possibility  of  their 
being  different.  0.  lanceolata  was  first  described  essentially  as  follows:  Joints  flattened,  sub- 
erect,  subnaked,  with  leaves  3  lines  long;  stems  at  first  erect;  joints  lanceolate,  green,  when 
young  with  many  leaves;  spines  (spicules?)  in  fascicles,  the  shortest  of  all  species  (except 
Cactus  coccinellijer)  :  leaves  longer  than  in  other  species. 

The  species  was  received  by  Haworth  from  W.  Anderson;  no  habitat  given.  In  1812 
Haworth  calls  it  the  spear-shaped  Opuntia.   He  says  it  probably  came  from  South  America, 


180 


THE    CACTACEAE. 


and  flowers  in  July.  It  had  been  in  cultivation  before  1796;  it  flowered  in  1808  with  Haw- 
orth  and  was  described  as  follows:  Flowers  shiny  yellow;  filaments  yellow,  half  as  long  as 
petals;  style  longer  than  stamens;  stigmas  5,  chick,  obtuse,  2  lines  long,  sulphur-colored. 

De  CandoUe  says  the  flowers  are  4  inches  in  diameter. 

Pfeifter  states  the  joints  are  5  to  6  inches  long  by  1  to  1.5  inches  broad;  that  the  leaves 
are  red  and  the  spicules  yellow. 

Opiintia  elongata  laevior  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  18  i9.  2-i2.  1850)  may  or  may  not 
belong  here. 


200.    Opuntia  maxima  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  5.     1768. 

Cactus  deciimanus  Willdenow.   Enum.   PI.   Suppl.  34.      1813. 

Opuntia  decumana  Haworth,  Rev.  PI.  Succ.  71.      1821. 

Cactus  maximus.  CoUa.  Mem.  Accad.  Sci.    Torino  33:   140.     1826   (?). 

Opuntia  gymnocarpa  Weber,   Diet.   Hort.   Bois  893.     1898. 

Opuntia  labouretiana  Console*   in   Schumann,    Gesamtb.  Kakteen  717.     1898. 

Opuntia  fuus-indica  decumana  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:  512.     1905. 

Opuntia  ficus-indica  gymnocarpa  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:512.  1905. 
Forming  large,  much  branched  plants;  joints  elongated,  more  or  less  spatulate,  35  cm.  long  or 
more,  10  to  12  cm.  broad,  rounded  at  apex,  somewhat  cuneate  at  base,  pale  green,  not  at  all  tubercu- 
late;  areoles  small,  distant;  spines  sometimes  wanting  or  sometimes  1  or  2,  short,  white;  glochids  yellow 
(brown  in  some  specimens  referred  here)  ;  flowers  conspicuous,  8  cm.  broad,  orange-red;  ovary  elongated, 
7  to  8  cm.  long,  bearing  numerous  large  glochids. 

lllustratio)i:  MoUers  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  25:  488.  f.  22,  No.  3,  as  Opuntia  labouretiana. 

*Berger  (Hort.  Mortol.  409.  1912)  says  this  is  known  as  O.  labouretiana  Console. 


TON     AND     ROSE 


M.  E.  Eaton  del. 

1.  'P!ittoi]ointoi  Oji/inlia  leiicolr'nha.  3.    Jo'mt  o[  Op;/i///.i  LuMcaiilha. 

2.  Part  of  joint  of  0/)//;///j  wj.v/wj.  4.    ]o'm\.  oi  Op/nilia  robiista. 

(All  three-fourths  size.) 


OPUNTIA.  181 

Type  locality:  In  America. 

Distribution:  Known  only  in  cultivation. 

Opuntia  maxima  Miller  was  described  as  the  lari^est  of  all  the  opuntias  and  as  the  name 
is  older  than  any  of  those  here  cited,  it  is  taken  up  for  this  species.  Haworth  was  uncer- 
tain whether  or  not  his  O.  decumana  is  distinct  from  Miller's  O.  maxima,  although  in  the 
Index  Kewensis  the  two  are  considered  the  same;  Burkill  considered  them  distinct,  but  his 
idea  of  O.  decumana  is  the  O.  ficus-indica  type.  Mr.  Berger,  on  the  other  hand,  states  that  it 
is  evidently  of  the  O.  dillenii  group,  but  this  is  hardly  warranted  by  the  description.  Berger 
is  convinced  that  O.  t'longata  is  distinct  from  O.  dcciiDunia. 

Opiintid  labuiiretiaiia  macrocarpa  (Cat.  Darrah  Succ.  Manchester  55.  1908)  is  only  a 
garden  name. 

Plate  XXXIV,  figure  2,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  presented  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  by  Frank  Weinberg  in  1901,  which  bloomed  in  May  1916.  Figure  220  is 
from  a  photograph  of  the  same  plant. 

Opufitia  baitramii  Ra.(inesque  (Atl.  Journ.  1:  146.  1832)  is  based  on  Bartram's  de- 
scription (Travels  p.  163.  1790),  in  which  he  states  that  the  plant  is  7  to  8  feet  high;  joints 
very  large,  bright  green,  glossy;  spines  none;  glochids  numerous;  iiowers  large,  yellow;  fruit 
pear-shaped,  purple.  It  was  found  about  6  miles  from  Lake  George,  northern  Florida, 
associated  with  Zamia  pumila  and  Erythrina.  We  do  not  know  of  any  Opuntia  answering 
the  description,  growing  in  Florida  at  the  present  time.  Dr.  Small  visited  the  type  locality 
in  1918  but  failed  to  find  any  plant  answering  Rafinesque's  description. 

Opuntia  hernandezii  De  CandoUe  (Mem.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris  17:  69.  pi.  16.  1828)  is  a  com- 
plex. The  reference  to  Hernandez  applies  to  Nopalea  cochenillijera.  Schumann  was  not 
able  to  identify  the  plant  illustrated  by  De  CandoUe,  but  thought  it  might  be  referable  to 
Opuntia  ficus-indica,  in  which  we  agree.  Opuntia  hernandezii  first  appeared  in  De  CandoUe's 
Prodromus  (3:  474.  1828).  Nopal  silvestre  Thierry  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  929.  1885) 
is  cited  as  a  synonym  of  Opuntia  hernandezii.  This  reference  is  given  also  in  the  Index 
Kewensis. 

Illustration:  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  930.  f.  128. 

Series  21.  STREPTACANTHAE. 

Tall,  branched,  glabrous,  green  species  with  white  or  faintly  yellow,  acicular  or  subulate  spines, 
large  yellow  or  red  flowers,  and  fleshy  fruits,  natives  of  Mexico  and  Central  and  South  America.  We 
recognize  twelve  species.  The  fruits,  known  as  tunas,  are  mostly  edible  and  are  sold  in  large  quantities 
in  Mexican  markets,  a  practice  which  probably  dates  from  prehistoric  time.  The  long-continued  selec- 
tion of  plants  for  their  fruit  has  perpetuated  many  slightly  differing  races. 

Key  to  Species. 

spines  short,   5   mm.  to  8  cm.  long. 
Joints  scarcely  if  at  all  tuberculate. 

Joints  obovate  to  elliptic,  mostly  not  more  than  twice  as  long  as  wide. 

Areoles  close  together,  sunken 201.  O.  spin/ilijent 

Areoles  not  close  together,  not  sunken. 
Joints  dull. 

Spines  acicular 202.  O.  lusiMaiill)a 

Spines  subulate. 

Areoles  with  2  or  more  short  reflexed  hairs  or  bristles  at  the  lower  part 
of  the  areoles. 

Spines  strongly  depressed;  areoles  with  several  hairs 20},.  O.  Iiyptiadnitlnt 

Spines  not  strongly  depressed;  areoles  with   1   or  2  hairs. 

Joints  obovate 20-4.  O.  sireplacanlija 

Joirits   oblong 205.  O  amyclaea 

Areoles  without  reflexed  hairs  or  bristles. 

Spines  clear  white,  terete  or  nearly  so;  fruit  spineless,  6  to  8  cm.  long, 

yellow,    edible 206.  O.  megacanttia 

Spines   white  to  dull  yellow,   somewhat   flattened ;   fruit   6  cm.   long  or 
less  bearing  a  few  spines  near  the  top,  red.  not  edible. 
Plant  with   -i  detinue  mink;   ptt.iK   nddisli;   liiiu  spinv  only  at  top   201.  O.  deamii 

Plant  bushy;  pu.iK  i  li.H,il.itt  mlonj  ;  tiuii  sp.m   .ill  over 2aia.  O.  dobbieana 

Jomts   shining 208.  O.  ekhlamii 

Joints  oblong  to  oblanceolate,  some  ot   tlicin  much  longer  ih.ui   uule. 


182 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Joints  shining;  wool  of  young  areoles  white;  petals  yellow lO').  O.  inaequiluteralis 

Joints  dull;  wool  of  young  areoles  brown;  petals  deep  orange  to  scarlet 210.  O.  pillieii 

Joints  strongly  tuberculate 211.0.  torilohens'n 

Spines  eliingated,    10  to   14  cm.   long 2\2.  O.  quimilo 

201.  Opuntia  spinulifera  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  364.     1834. 

Optint'ut  cjiiiieLihriformis  Martius  in  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  159.      1837. 
Opunlu  nligMMthj  Salm-Dyck.   Cact.   Hort.   Dyck.   1849.  241.      1850. 

Tall,  much  branched  plants,  joints  orbicular  to  oblong,  sometimes  obovate,  20  to  30  cm.  long,  glab- 
rous, a  little  glaucous;  leaves  small,  red,  4  to  6  mm.  long;  areoles  on  young  joints  usually  small,  some- 
times longer  than  broad,  the  margin  at  first  bordered  with  cobwebby  hairs,  afterwards  short  white  hairs, 
either  spineless  or  with  short  white  bristle-like  spines;  areoles  on  old  joints  more  or  less  sunken,  rather 
close  together;  spines  on  old  joints  1  to  3,   1  to  2   cm.  long,  subulate,  bone-colored. 

Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distributio)!:  Mexico. 

We  have  seen  no  wild  specimens  of  this  species,  but  Mr.  Bergcr  has  grown  it  at  La 
Mortohx,  Italy,  and  has  distributed  specimens  now  growing  in  New  YiMk  and  Washington. 

So-called  Opuntia  cavdelabyijorniis  and  O. 
oligacautha  are  also  in  cultivation;  but  the 
original  descriptions  indicate  that  these  trwo 
species  should  be  merged  into  O.  spinulijera, 
and  plants  so  determined  in  European  collec- 
tions support  this  view.  In  so  far  as  we  have 
been  able  to  ascertain,  no  type  specimens  of 
any  of  the  three  supposed  species  are  extant. 
Schumann  (Gesamtb.  Kakteen  740.  1898)  de- 
scribes the  flowers  of  O.  candelabrijormis  as 
purple,  6  to  7  cm.  broad.  Opuvtia  candela- 
biifor///is  ligidior  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort.  Dyck. 
18  19.  68.  1850),  an  unpublished  variety,  may 
belong  here. 

Figure  221  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant 
presented  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden 
by  Mrs.  George  Such  in  1900. 

202.  Opuntia  lasiacantha  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact. 
160.     1837. 

Berger.     Bot. 


Ofiiiiti.i    menjcanlhii    lashicantha    ^__.    

Jahrh.  Engler  36:  453.      1905.  Ho.  J21.-Upunt,a  spui 

A  tall  plant,  with  a  more  or  less  definite  trunk;  joints  obovate  to  oblong,  20  to  30  cm,  long;  leaves 
short,  red;  areoles  small,  2  to  3  cm.  apart;  spines  usually  1  to  3,  acicular,  white,  2  to  4  cm.  long, 
slightly  spreading;  glochids  numerous,  prominent,  dirty  yellow  to  brown;  flowers  large,  yellow  or  deep 
orange,  6  to  8  cm.  broad;  ovary  bearing  long,  brown,  deciduous  bristles,  especially  from  the  upper  are- 
oles; style  pinkish;  stigma-lobes  pale  green. 

Type  locality.  In  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Central  Mexico. 

Schumann  refers  O.  lasiacantha  to  O.  robusta.  but  wrongly,  as  Berger  states,  and  as 
living  plants  show.  Pfeiffer  said  it  is  near  O.  candi'labri\<)rniis.  here  taken  up  under  0. 
spinuli]era. 

This  species  is  very  variable  and,  while  it  seems  distinct  from  O.  nwgacantha.  it  is 
to  be  noted  that  Mr.  Berger  referred  it  to  that  species  as  a  variety. 

Opuntia  chaetocarpa  Griffiths  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  27:  25.  1914),  in  its  few 
long  white  spines,  resembles  plants  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  in  southern  Mexico  which  we  have 
referred  to  this  species. 

Illustration:  Addisonia  3:  pi.  90. 

Plate  XXXIV,  figure  3,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near 
the  City  of  Mexico  in  1906.  Figure  222  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Mac- 
Dougal  and  Dr.  Rose  at  Tehuacan,  Mexico,  in  1906. 


OPUNTIA.  183 

Opuntia  zacuapanensis  Berger,  Hort.  Mortol.  413-     1912. 

"A  fine  new  species  with  bright-orange  flowers.  We  received  this  plant  a  few  years  ago  from  M.  L. 
Puteaux,  Versailles,  as  Opuntia  spec,  from  Zacuapan.*  Joints  13  to  20  cm.  long  and  9.3  cm.  broad, 
obovate,  smooth,  glossy  green,  areoles  15  to  25  mm.  distant,  slightly  elevated,  small,  roundish  or  obo- 
vate.  Spicules  yellow,  short,  not  numerous.  Spines  generally  two,  white,  with  yellowish  points  and 
base,  terete,  the  lower  deflexed  shorter,  the  upper  one  spreading  (2-)  3  cm.  long.  Flowers  numerous 
from  the  top  of  the  joint,  7.5  cm.  long  and  6.5  cm.  broad,  ovary  obovate  turbinate,  3.5  to  4  cm.  long 
and  22  mm.  broad,  areoles  somewhat  elevated,  prickly;  petals  obovate  lanceolate,  acute  and  aristate, 
orange-yellow,  with  a  more  reddish-brown  hue  along  the  midrib  on  the  back  and  as  well  on  the  shorter 
obtuse  outer  petals;  stamens  yellow,  style  yellowish,  thickened  or  clavate  above  the  base,  stigma  (6-)  7, 
dirty,  rose-coloured." 

We  have  studied  a  plant,  sent  from  La  Mortola  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden 
in  1913,  which  has  not  flowered;  it  appears  to  be  related  to  O.  lasiacantha. 

Figure  223  represents  a  joint  from  the  plant  received  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1913. 


Fig.  222. — Opuntia  lasiacantt 
X  0.4. 


1898. 


meter  high;  joints  oblong  to  obo- 


203.  Opuntia  hyptiacantha  Weber,  Diet.  Hort.  Bois  894. 

Opiinlhi  nigvita  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.   21:   169.      1910. 
?  Opuuti.i  aeloclhU'ta  Griffiths,  Proc.   Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29: 

A  tall,  much  branched  plant,  but  in  cultivation  often  only 
vate,  20  to  30  cm.  long,  pale  green,  but  when  young  bright  green;  spines  on  young  joints  single,  por- 
rcct,  and  accompanied  by  2  or  3,  sometimes  many,  white,  slightly  pungent  hairs;  spines  on  old  joints 
4  to  6  (in  the  original  description  8  to  10),  somewhat  spreading  or  appressed,  1  to  2  cm.  long;  glo- 
chids  few,  brownish;  areoles  small,  1.5  cm.  apart;  leaves  small,  brownish;  flowers  red;  fruit  globular, 
yellowish,  its  areoles  filled  with  long,  weak  glochids;  umbilicus  broad,  only  slightly  depressed. 
*  Perhaps  Zacualpa 


in  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico. 


184 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Dhtributioji:  Oaxaca,  Mexico. 

Tiiis  species  is  very  near  Opuntia  itreptacuntha,  and  in  many  cases  it  is  difficult  to 
separate  them.  It  is  also  near  O.  pili^era,  but  the  areoles  are  not  so  hairy.  Weber,  who  first 
described  it,  gives  no  definite  locality  for  the  species;  but  Dr.  Rose  has  examined,  at  La 
Mortola,  Italy,  a  living  plant  sent  by  Weber  which  seems  to  be  the  same  as  one  of  the  large 
opuntias  from  Tehuacan,  Mexico. 

Opuntia  chavena  Griffiths  (Rep.  Mo.  Bot. 
Gard.  19:  264.  pi.  23,  in  part.  1908)  is  a  near 
relative  of  0.  hyptiacantha  or  not  distinct 
from  it. 

lllusti-atioii:  Rep.  Mo.  Dot.  Gard.  21:  pi. 
24,  as  Opuntia  iiigrita. 

Figure  224  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant 
obtained  for  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden 
from  the  collection  of  M.  Simon,  St.  Ouen, 
Paris,  France,  in  1901. 

204.  Opuntia    streptacantha    Lemaire,    Cact. 
Gen.  Nov.  Sp.  62.     1839. 

Much  branched,  up  to  5  meters  high,  sometimes 
with  a  trunk  45  cm.  in  diameter;  joints  obovate  to 
orbicular,  25  to  30  cm.  long,  dark  green;  areoles 
small,  rather  close  together  for  this  group;  spines 
numerous,  spreading  or  some  of  them  appressed, 
white;  glochids  reddish  brown,  very  short;  flowers 
7  to  9  cm.  broad,  yellow  to  orange,  the  sepals  red- 
dish; filaments  greenish  cr  reddish;  stigma4obes  8 
to  12,  green;  fruit  globular,  5  cm.  in  diameter,  dull 
red  or  sometimes  yellow,  both  within  and  without. 

Type  locality:  Not  cited. 

Distribution:  Very  common  on  the  Mex- 
ican tabledands,  especially  on  the  deserts  of 
San  Luis  Potosi. 

This  species  is  known  as  tuna  cardona  or  nopal  cardon,  and  is  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant economic  opuntias  in  Mexico.  It  has  many  forms  and  seems  to  grade  into  some  of 
the  species  whicih  we  have  here  recognized. 

Opuntia  cardona  Weber  (Diet.  Hort.  Bois  895.  1898)  and  O.  coindcttii  Weber  (Diet. 
Hort.  Bois  895.  1898)  are  two  names  given  as  synonyms  of  the  species  by  Weber,  but  they 
were  never  published.  O.  diplacantha  (Berger,  Hort.  Mortol.  232.  1912)  must  be  referred 
here,  but  of  this,  so  far  as  we  know,  there  is  no  published  description.  Berger  has  distributed 
living  specimens  which  we  are  inclined  to  refer  here. 

^Opuntia  pachona  Griffiths  (Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  21:  168.  pi.  22.  1910)  is  closely  related 
to  O.  streptacantha,  if  not  a  race  of  that  species.  Opuntia  nic<^acantha  tenuispma  Salm-Dyck 
(Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1844.  45.  1845)  was  given  as  a  new  name  for  O.  lasiaciintlja.  but  was 
never  described. 

Illustrations:  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  1;  Stafford,  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst. 
1908:  pi.  9,  f.  6;  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Bur.  PI.  Ind.  Bull.  102':  pi.  1;  116:  pi.  1,  this  last  as  tuna 
cardona;  Engler  and  Prantl,  Pflanzenfam.  3*^^:  f.  70,  this  last  as  Opuntia  pseudotuiia:  Useful 
Wild  PI.  U.  S.  Canada  app.  18,  108,  174,  as  Opuntia  tuna. 

Figure  225  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  received  from  C.  Werckle  in  1902  as  O.  cardona. 

205.  Opuntia  amyclaea  Tcnorc,  Fl.  Neap.  Prodr,  App.  5:15.     1826. 

Op»ia/,i  fiais-imlii.i  Jiiiyclu'.i   Berger,   Hort.   Mi)rti)l.    111.      1912. 


J5.— Op 


ptacantli; 


OPUNTIA. 


185 


Erect;  joints  oblong  to  elliptic,  3  to  4  dm.  long,  about  twice  as  long  as  broad,  thick,  dull  green,  a 
little  glaucous;  leaves  4  mm.  long,  acute,  red;  areoles  small,  with  1  or  2  short  bristles  from  the  lower 
parts  of  areoles;  spines  1  to  4,  stiff,  nearly  porrect,  usually  less  than  3  cm.  long,  white  or  horn-colored, 
the  stoutest  angled;  glochids  brown,  soon  disappearing;  flowers  yellow;  fruit  yellowish  red,  not  very 
juicy. 

Type  locality:  Described  from  specimens  grown  in  Italy. 

Distribution:  Doubtless  Mexico,  but  not  known  in  the  wild  state. 

Our  description  is  based  on  the  original  description  and  a  specimen  collected  by  A. 
Berger  near  Palermo,  where  it  is  grown  as  a  hedge  plant.  Berger's  plant  suggests  very  much 
O.  streptacatithd.  but  is  not  quite  so  spiny;  it  does  not  suggest  very  much  O.  ficus-indica, 
where  Berger  has  placed  it.  Our  description  of  the  spines  is  taken  from  Berger's  plant,  while 
the  original  description  states  that  the  spines  are  3  to  8,  stout,  spreading,  unequal,  white, 
the  longest  35  mm.  long. 

O.  alfagayucca  (Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  68.  1850)  and  O.  aljayucca  (Riim- 
pler  in  Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  ed.  2.  938.  1885)  were  given  as  synonyms  of  O.  auiyclaea. 


206.  Opuntia  megacantha  Salm-Dyck,  Hort.  Dyck.  363.     1834. 

OpuntLi  caitillae  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.    19:   261.      190S. 
?Opunthi  incainadillt  Griffiths,   Rep.   Mo.   Bot.  Gard.  11:  27.      1912. 

Plant  tall,  4  to  5  meters  high  or  more,  with  a  more  or  less  definite  woody  trunk;  joints  of  large 
plants  obovate  to  oblong,  often  oblique,  sometimes  40  to  60  cm.  long  or  more,  but  in  greenhouse  speci- 
mens often  much  smaller,  pale  dull  green,  slightly  glaucous;  leaves  minute,  often  only  3  mm.  long, 
green  or  purplish;  areoles  rather  small,  on  large  joints  often  4  to  5  cm.  apart,  when  young  bearing 
brown  wool;  spines  white,  usually  1  to  ^,  slightly  spreading,  sometimes  nearly  porrect,  usually  only  2  to 
3  cm.  long,  sometimes  few  and  confined  to  the  upper  areoles;  glochids  few,  yellow,  caducous,  some- 
times appearing  again  on  old  joints;  flowers  yellow  to  orange,  about  8  cm.  broad;  ovary  spiny  or  spine- 
less, obovoid ;  fruit  7  to  8  cm.  long. 


186 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Fig.  227. — Opuntia  megacantha  on  Lan, 

Type  locality;:  In  Mexico. 

D'lstr'ihiit'ion:  Much  cultivated  in  Mexico;  grown  also  in  Jamaica  and  southern  California 
and  escaped  from  cultivation  in  Hawaii. 

This  species  was  originally  described  by  Salm-Dyck  essentially  as  follows:  Erect  and  of 
the  size  of  O.  decumana;  joints  17.5  cm.  long  by  7.5  cm.  broad  and  2.5  cm.  or  more  thick; 
areoles  close  together,  filled  with  gray  wool;  glo- 
chids  brownish,  becoming  blackish;  spines  7  to  10, 
white,  unequal,  acicular,  somewhat  radiating,  the 
longest  one  deflexed,  5  cm.  long;  flowers  not  known; 
leaves  small,  reddish. 

Opuntia  megacantha  trichacantha  Salm-Dyck 
was  given  as  a  synonym  of  this  species  by  Forster 
(Handb.  Cact.  486.  1846),  but  was  never  published. 

Opuntia  tvihul aides  Griffiths  (Monatsschr.  Kak- 
teenk.  23:  137.  1913),  according  to  the  description, 
is  of  this  relationship. 

This  is  the  chief  Mission  cactus.  It  is  the  one 
from  which  the  best  varieties  of  edible  tunas  are 
obtained  and  is  one  of  the  commonest  cultivated 
opuntias  in  Mexico,  having  numerous  forms,  many 
of  them  bearing  local  names. 

Opuntia  effulgia  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club 
46:  195.  1919)  was  obtained  from  San  Luis  Potosi, 
Mexico,  and  grown  at  Chico,  California;  0.  hispanica 
Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  46:  198.  1919)  was  de- 
scribed from  a  plant  received  from  Spain  and  grown 
at  Chico;  O.  chata  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  46: 
199-  1919),  from  Aguascalientes,  Mexico,  was 
grown  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  and  at  Chico;  O.  obo- 
rata  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  46:  202.  1919)  from 
Hepasote,  Mexico,  was  also  grown  at  Brownsville 
and  at  Chico;  O.  ainarilla  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club 


Gard.    19:  pi.   24,  both  as 
iniadilLi:  Amcr.  Journ.  Bot. 


OPUNTIA,  187 

A6:  205.  1919)  was  obtained  in  cultivation  at  Cardenas,  Mexico,  and  grown  at  Chico.  These 
are  known  to  us  only  from  the  descriptions  and  appear  to  be  races  of  O.  megacantha  or  of 
some  of  the  related  tall,  white-spined  species. 

lUiistralwns:  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  67:  pi.  8,   f.   2;   Rep.   Mo.   Bot.   Gard.    19:  pi 
Opiintia  castillae.    Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  22:  pi.  4,  5,  these  two  as  OpiiniL 
4:  572.  f.  6;  Ann.  Rep.  Smiths.  Inst.  1917:  pi.  16,  f.  2. 

Plate  XXXII,  fii;ure  4,  represents  a  flowering  joint  of  a  plant  in  the  same  collection  received  from  Fair- 
mount  Park,  Philadelphia,  m  1905.  Figure  226  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  in  the  collection  of  the 
New  York  Botanical  Garden;  figure  227  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  A.  S.  Hitchcock  on  Lanai  in  1916; 
figure  228  represents  a  joint  of  a  plant  obtained  by  Dr.  MacDougal  near  Mount  Wilson,  California,  in 
1906,  a  nearly  spineless  form. 

207.  Opuntia  deamii  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  13:  309.   1911. 

One  meter  or  so  high,  with  a  definite  cylindric  trunk,  branching  a  short  distance  above  the  base; 
branches  few,  ascending;  joints  erect  or  spreading,  very  large,  cbovate  to  oblanceolate,  25  to  30  cm.  long,  at 
first  bright  leaf-green,  in  age  dark  green,  glabrous ;  areoles  remote,  often  4  cm.  apart,  rather  small ;  spines  2 
to  6,  usually  4,  white  or  dull  yellow,  stout,  somewhat  flattened,  spreading  or  porrect,  3  to  5.5  cm.  long; 
flowers  7  cm.  long,  reddish ;  fruit  oblong,  6  cm.  long,  naked,  except  for 
a  few  spines  near  the  top,  wine-red  both  within  and  without,  not  edible; 
seeds  small,  3  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   Fiscal,  Guatemala. 

Distribution :  Fiscal  to  San  Jose  de  Golf 
Sanarata,  Guatemala. 

Ill  Hit  vat  ion:   Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  1 
65. 

Figure  229  represents  a  joint  of 
the  type  specimen. 

A  tall,  white-spined  Opuntia. 
closely  resembling  the  Mexican  O. 
macracantha,  was  obtained  by  Dr. 
Rose  in  1918  (No.  22390)  along 
roadsides  at  Ambato,  Ecuador,  pre- 
sumably escaped  from  cultivation;  its 
fruit  is  edible. 

207^/.  Opuntia  dobbieana  sp.   nov. 
(See  Appendix,  p.  225.) 

208.  Opuntia  eichlamii  Rose,  Contr. 

U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  13:  310. 
1911. 

Tree-like,  5  to  6  meters  high,  the 
main  branches  nearly  erect;  joints  obovate 
to  orbicular,  15  to  20  cm.  long,  more  or 
less  glaucous,  especially  in  dried  speci- 
mens ;  leaves  minute,  caducous ;  areoles 
small,  3  to  3.5  cm.  apart;  spines  4  to  6, 
very  unequal,  2  cm.  long  or  less,  rose- 
colored  at  first,  soon  becoming  white, 
spreading,  the  larger  ones  flattened ;  glo- 
chids  brown;  flower  3.5  cm.  long;  petals 
carmine;  style  red;  stigma-lobes  8  to  11, 
bright  green  ;  fruit  4  cm.  long,  strongly  tu- 
berculate,  not  edible. 

Type  locality:   Near  Guatemala  City. 

Distrih/itidii:   Suburbs  of  Guatemala  City,  Guatemala 

]lliisiyati,,u:   Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  13:  pi.  (■><^. 

FigLirc  230  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen. 


— Opuntia  deamii 


188 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


209.    Opuntia  inaequilateralis  Berger,  Bot.  Jahrb.  Engler  36:  453.   1905. 

About  12  dm.  high,  with  spreading;  branches;  joints  oblique,  narrowly  ovate  to  subrhomboid,  40  to  70 
cm.  long,  2  to  4  times  as  long  as  wide,  narrowed  at  base,  obtuse  at  apex,  with  somewhat  sinuate  margins, 
green,  shining;  young  joints  bright  green,  not  at  all  glaucous,  oblanceolate  to  narrowly  oblong,  rounded  at 
apex;  leaves  reddish,  subulate,  2  to  3  mm.  long;  areoles  small,  circular,  filled  with  white  wool  when  young, 
and  having  white,  somewhat  cobwebby  hairs  on  the  outer  edge;  glochids  brown,  in  a  dense  cluster;  spines 
3  to  7,  acicular  on  young  joints,  but  finally  10  to  15,  stout,  3  to  4  cm.  long,  at  first  yellowish,  becoming 
white,  somewhat  spreading  but  not  appressed  to  the  joint;  flowers  large,  borne  at  the  apex  of  the  joints; 
petals  yellow,  broadly  obovate,  refuse  with  crenulate  margins ;  stigma-lobes  green ;  fruit  oblong,  truncate,  red- 
dish, juicy,  sweet. 

Type  locality:   Described  from  cultivared  specimens  grown  at  La  Mortola,  Italy. 

Distribulion:  Known  only  from  cultivated  specimens,  their  origin  unknown. 

Illustration:   Figure  231  shows  a  joint  of  a  plant  sent  from  La  Mortola,  Italy,  in  1913. 


210.    Opuntia  pittieri  sp.  nov. 

Plant  up  to  5  meters  high,  with  a  rather  definite  cylindric  spiny  trunk;  joints  large,  25  to  50  cm. 
long,  2  to  4  times  as  long  as  wide,  narrowly  oblong,  green;  leaves  subulate,  with  purple  tips;  wool  in 
young  areoles  dark  brown  to  purple;  areoles  elevated,  rather  large,  2  to  3  cm.  apart;  spines  3  to  6,  slightly 
spreading,  acicular,  white,  the  longest  2  to  2.5  cm.  long;  glochids  tardily  developing,  few,  often  want- 
ing; flowers  deep  orange,  turning  to  scarlet;  ovary  nearly  globular,  more  or  less  spiny,  nearly  truncate 
at  apex. 

Collected  at  Venticas  del  Dagua,  Dagua  Valley,  western  cordillera  of  Colombia,  February 
1906,  by  H.  Pittier,  and  since  grown  in  Washington  and  New  York. 


189 


Opuntia  pitticri  differs  from  O.  hiaequilateralh  in  having  the  young  joints  thinner,  some- 
what tuberculate,  and  with  longer  leaves;  the  areoles,  too,  are  filled  with  brown  or  purple  wool, 
while  the  glochids  develop  more  slowly  or  never  appear. 

Figure  232  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  plant. 

211.    Opuntia  cordobensis  Spegazzini,  Anal.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires  III.  4:  513.     1905. 

Much  branched,  the  trunk  1  to  2  meters  long,  20  cm.  in  diameter,  very  spiny;  joints  large,  3  dm. 
long  or  more,  broadly  oblong  to  obovate ;  areoles  prominent,  numerous;  spines  1  to  6,  white,  somewhat 
spreading,  a  little  flattened  and  twisted;  flowers  usually  on  the  margins  of  the  joints;  petals  about  12, 
yellow;   fruit  pyriform,  yellowish  both  within  and  without,  8  cm.  long;  seeds  about  3  mm.  long. 


Fig.  232.— O 


O.  cordobensis.  xO.4. 


T]pe  locality.  Near  Cordoba,  Argentina. 

Distribution:   Northern  Argentina. 

The  only  white-spined  species  observed  by  Dr.  Rose  in  1915  about  Cordoba  were  O.  ficus- 
indica,  in  cultivation,  and  what  we  have  taken  to  be  0.  cordobensis.  The  latter  is  very  abund- 
ant, growing  on  the  hills  about  the  city,  and  sometimes  planted  as  hedges.  Dr.  Spegazzini 
states  that  it  has  the  habit  of  O.  labouretiana. 

Figure  233  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Cordoba,  Argen- 
tina, in  1915;  figure  23-1  represents  the  fruit  as  collected  by  J.  A.  Shafer  at  Calilegua,  Argen- 
tina, in  1917  (No.  197). 


190 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


212.    Opuntia  quimilo  Schumann,  Gcsamtb.    Kakteen  7  i6.    KS'AS  . 

Much  branched,  about  4  meters  his;h;  joints  lari;e,  elliptic  or  obovate,  5  dm.  loni;  by  2.5  dm.  broad, 
2  to  3  cm.  thick,  grayish  green;  spines  very  long,  usually  1,  sometimes  2  or  3  from  an  areole,  twisted,  7  to 
14.5  cm  long;  flowers  red,  7  cm.  broad;  fruit  pear-shaped  to  globular,  5  to  7  cm.  long,  greenish  yellow, 
seeds  8  mm.  broad,  1.5  to  2  mm.  thick,  with  broad,  thick,  white  margins. 

Type  locality.    La  Banda,  Santiago  del  Estero,  Argentina. 

Distribtitiun:   Northern  Argentina. 

This  plant  is  known  to  the  natives  as  quimilo. 

Dr.  Rose  obtained  a  good  photograph  of  it  from  Dr.  ).  A.  Domingucz,  and  seed  and 
a  photograph  from  Dr.  Spegazzini.  While  the  volume  was  going  through  the  press  a  fine 
specimen  in   fruit   with   the   long   spines   so   characteristic   of   this   species  was   obtained   by 

H.  M.  Curran  at  Quilino,  Cordoba 
Argentina.  Dr.  Shafer's  speciinens  col- 
lected at  Rio  Piedras,  show  that  the 
trunk-areoles  sometimes  bear  as  many 
as  eight  spines. 


Fig.  235.— Joint  of  Opiim: 


36.— Fiuu  u£  Op 


Figure  235  represents  a  joint  obtained  by  Dr.  Shafer  at  Rio  Piedras,  Salta,  Argentina, 
January  4,  1917  (No.  34) ;  figure  236  represents  the  fruit  from  the  same  plant;  figure  237  is 
from  a  photograph  of  a  flowering  joint  of  the  plant,  contributed  by  Dr.  Spegazzini. 

The  following  may  belong  to  this  series: 

Opuntia  ithypetala  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  529.   1916. 

Tall,  erect  plant,  2  meters  or  more  high;  joints  large,  obovate,  26  to  45  cm.  long,  14  to  19  cm.  broad, 
much  contracted  below,  bright  dark  green,  somewhat  tuberculate  at  the  areoles;  subul.ate,  5  to  6  mm.  long; 
areoles  large,  often  1  cm.  in  diameter,  4  to  5  cm.  apart;  spines  white  .at  least  on  second  year's  growth,  3  to 
5;  central  spine  largest,  porrect,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  flowers  yellow,  fading  to  rose-purplish;  petals  erect,  3  cm. 
in  diameter;  style  white;  stigma-lobes  6,  light  green. 

Known  only  from  cultivated  plants  received  from  the  Berlin  Botanical  Ciardcn 


OPUNTIA.  191 

Series  22.  ROBUSTAE. 

Tall  or  lar^t  plants  with  blue-  or  bluish  green  joints,  the  spines,  when  present,  white  or  yellowish.  Two 
of  the  species  are  widely  distributed  in  warm  regions  through  cultivation  for  their  edible  fruits;  the  other 
is  known  in  cultivation  only  in  central  Mexico.   All  are  presumably  Mexican  in  origin. 

KUV  TO  SPl!CIIiS 

Joints  orbicular  lo  broadly  obovatt  or 
elliptic. 
Fruit  deep  red,  7  to  9  cm.  in  diameter.  213.   O.    rohiisla 
Fruit  greenish  white,  A  to  5  cm.  in 

diameter 214.   O.  giierraiia 

Joints  oblong,  narrowed  at  both  ends  ...   21 '5.   0.  'imicaidn 

213.     Opuntia  robusta  Wendland  in  Pfeitifer, 
Enum.  Cact.  165.    1837. 


opuntia  III 


Opuiiliu  Liiwyf  Webei-  in  C' 
Nat.  Herb.  3:  -123.    1896. 

Opuntia  gorda  Griffiths,  Mc 
2.3:   13-4.    1913. 


Lemaire,  Cact.  Gen.  Nov.  Sp. 
Contr.  U.  S. 
r.   Kakteenk. 


Often  erect,  scm- times  5  meters  high,  usually 
much  branched;  joints  orbicular  to  oblong,  20  to  25 
cm.  long  by  10  to  12.5  cm.  broad,  very  thick,  bluish 
green,  glaucous;  leaves  4  mm.  long,  reddish,  acute; 
spines  8  to  12,  stcut,  very  diverse,  brown  or  yellow- 
ish at  base,  white  above,  up  to  5  cm.  long,  but  often 
wanting  on  greenhouse  specimens ;  flowers  5  cm. 
broad,  yellow ;  stigma-lobes  green ;  fruit  globular  to 
ellipsoid,  at  first  more  or  less  tuberculate,  deep  red, 
7  to  9  cm.  long. 


In  Mexico. 

Central   Mexico;   cultivated 


Opuntia  quimilo. 


Type  locality. 

Distribution : 
in  Argentina. 

This  is  one  of  the  few  species  of  Opntitiu 
of  which  we  have  not  been  able  to  verify  the 
original  publication.  It  was  redescribed  by 
Pfeiffer  in  1837. 

Opuntia  caniues.ui  Weber  (Diet.  Hort.  Bois  895.  1898)  was  given  as  a  synonym  of  0. 
robusta,  but  was  never  described;  and  the  same  is  true  of  O.  piccoloininiana  Parlatore  (Schu- 
mann, Gesamtb.  Kakteen  74l.     1898). 

The  variety  Opuntia  rubusta  viridior  Salm-Dyck  (Forster,  Handb.  Cact.  -i87.  1846)  was 
never  described. 

Opuntia  albicans  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  361.  1834)  we  do  not  know,  but  A.  Berger, 
who  has  grown  a  plant  under  that  name  at  La  Mortola,  says  it  is  closely  related  to  O.  robusta, 
while  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  are  specimens  labeled  O.  albicans  which  are  difficult 
to  distinguish  from  O.  ficus-inclica.  Here  belong  the  following:  O.  prate  Sabine  (Pfeifi'er, 
Enum.  Cact.  155.  1837),  given  as  a  synonym  of  O.  albicans;  O.  albicans  laevior  Salm-Dyck 
(Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.  1849-  67.  1850),  name  only;  and  O.  pruinosa  Salm-Dyck  (Cact.  Hort. 
Dyck.  1849.  67.    1850)  given  as  a  synonym  of  O.  albicans  laevior. 

Opuntia  cyanea  Griffiths  (Bull.  Torr.  Club  46:  196.  1919)  judging  from  the  original  de- 
scription may  be  related  to  O.  robusta. 

Opuntia  larreyi.  a  manuscript  name  of  Weber,  which  was  published  by  Coulter  in  1896,  is 
based  on  the  plant  known  to  the  Mexicans  as  camuessa.  Weber  gave  it  the  name  of  O.  caniu- 
essa,  as  shown  above,  but  did  not  publish  it;  it  is  usually  considered  to  be  only  a  race  of  O. 
robusta,  but  Dr.  Griffiths  considers  it  a  distinct  species,  even  referring  it  to  a  different  series, 


192 


THE  CACTACl-AE. 


the  Ficus-hidkae  (N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  64:  56.     1907). 

Berger  remarks  that  this  species  is  very  variable,  but  that  it  cau  not  well  be  divided  even 
into  varieties. 

Opuntia  vw^^dlarthra  Rose  (Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.  50:  529.  1908),  in  its  very  spiny  joints, 
yellow  spines,  and  small  fruits,  seems  very  dirt'erent  from  the  common  cultivated  O.  loh/ista: 
yet  when  grown  in  the  greenhouse  for  several  years  it  takes  on  much  the  appearance  of  O. 
robusta.   If  this  view  is  correct,  O.  iiiegcilcirthra  represents  the  wild  form  of  the  species. 

Opuntia  coch'mera  Griffiths  (Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  263-  pi.  26.  1908)  from  Zacatccas, 
Mexico,  is,  perhaps,  a  hybrid  between  Opuntia  robusta  and  one  of  the  Streptacanthae. 

Illustrations:  N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  60:  pi.  5,  f  .1;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  23:  135; 
Journ.  Inter.  Gard.  Club  3:  1-4,  the  last  two  as  Opuntia  gorda:  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Bur.  Pi.  Ind. 
Bull.  74:  pi.  5,  as  Tapuna  pear.  ?N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  64:  pi.  1;  Engler  and  Prantl, 
Pflenzenfam.  36^:  f.  56,  G,  as  Opuntia  albicans. 

Plate  XXXIV,  figure  4,  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  in  Hidalgo,  Mex- 
ico, in  1905,  and  described  by  him  as  Opuntia  in  c  gal  art  bra.  Figure  238  is  from  a  photograph 
taken  m  Zacatecas,  Mexico,  by  Professor  F.  E.  Lloyd  in  1908. 


'^  ~^^^*^^?1^'^J^CIZ 


Fig.  238.— Opunti 


214.  Opuntia  guerrana  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  266.    1908. 

Plant  9  to  12  dm.  high,  with  an  open,  branching  top;  joints  oblong  to  orbicular,  15  to  25  cm.  long, 
thick,  glaucous;  areoles  5  mm.  in  diameter,  filled  with  tawny  wool;  spines  white  to  yellow,  1  to  6,  flattened, 
twisted;  petals  yellow;  filaments  greenish  white;  stigma-lobes  green;  fruit  globose  greenish  white,  4  to  5 
cm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality.    Near  Dublan,  Hidalgo,  Mexico. 
Distribution:    Known  only  from  type  locality. 

Except  in  size  and  color  of  fruit  this  species  is  very  much  like  the  comn^ 
of  this  part  of  Mexico. 

215.  Opuntia  fusicaulis  Griffiths,  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  271.    1908. 

Plant  5  meters  high  or  less,  the  branches  erect  or  spr  ading;  joints  cblong,  dor 
less,  much  longer  than  wide,  glaucous,  bluish  green,  spineless,  narrowed  at  both  ends 
ing;  areoles  small,  filled  with  tawny  wool;  fruit  greenish  white. 

Type  locality:   Described  from  cultivated  plants. 

Distribution:    Known  only  from  cultivated  specimens. 

Illustration:   Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  19:  pi.  23,  in  part. 


Opuntia  rohnsti, 


^ated,    I  dm.   long  or 
glochids  often  want- 


OPUNTIA.  193 

The  following  may  be  referable  to  this  series: 
Opuntia  crvstalhnia  Griffiths,  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  528.    1916. 

Erect,  2  to  2.5  meters  high;  joints  broadly  obovate,  25  cm.  long,  KS  cm.  wide,  glaucous,  bluish 
green,  becoming  yellowish  in  age;  leaves  4  mm.  long,  subulate;  spines  white,  porrect,  only  on  the  upper 
parts  of  the  joints,  1  to  4,  usually  only  2,  the  longest  1  to  1.5  cm.  long;  glochids  yellow;  flowers  yellow; 
stigma-lobes  10,  dark  green;  fruit  subglobose,  4  to  4.5  cm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:   Cardenas,  Mexico. 

Distrihi/tioii:    Highlands  of  Mexico,  where  it  is  also  cultivated. 

Series  23.   POLYACANTHAE. 

This  series  is  confined  chiefly  to  plains  of  the  western  United  States.  The  species  are  all  low, 
creeping  plants,  very  spiny,  with  dry  fruits.  On  account  of  the  dry  fruit  this  series  forms  a  natural 
group,  although  some  species  in  the  series  Basilares  also  have  dry  fruits.  One  species  of  series  Polja- 
canthae  has  fragile  branches,  in  this  respect  resembling  the  C/n\tssai'n\ie.  The  species  hybridize  with  those 
of  the  Tortisphiae. 

Key  to  Species 

Jciints  readily  detached,  turgid,  SDiiie  of  them  subterete  or  subglobose 216.   O.  fijgilh 

Joints  not  readily  detached,  usually  flat  and  thin,  or  in  0.  arenaria  sometimes  turgid  and  nearly 

Joints  turgid,  usually  Mii.ill  217.   O.  arenaria 

Joints  thinner  than  tlx  I.im,  mostly  Hat,  larger. 

Spines,  or  some  of  tliciii,  \cry  long,  flexible  and  bristle4ike. 

Flowers  4  to  5  cm.  long 218.   O.  trichophora 

Flowers  5  to  6  cm.  long 219.   O.  erhiacea 

Spines  stiff,  acicular  or  subulate;  areoles  distant. 
Spines  subulate. 

Fruit  naked  220.   O.  juniperina 

Fruit  spiny. 

Flowers    yellow 221.   O.  hystricina 

Flowers    red  222.   O.  rhodantha 

Spines  acicular,  skihic  i     .luoks  ilnsc  together. 

Ovary  and  tiu.i   wiili.,iii  spims        223.   O.  sphaerocarpa 

Ovary  and   fmii   witli   spims  _.__ 22A.  O.  polyacaniha 

216.    Opuntia  fragilis   (Nuttall)   Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  82.     1819. 

C.n-lin   li.ivil/.   \uitall.  Gen.  PI.    1:   246.    1818. 

Op/,1.';,  .'„.  1  '.;..;   Fimelmann   and   Bigelow,   Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  .^:   i02.      1856. 

0/>//'.  ;,    ■  ^  ni:uni/v.,  Coulter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:    110.    1896. 

OpHii:;,  ;.  i...:.  ■,>./'//-/>.(  and  luhenformii  Hortus,  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  2i6i.    1916. 

(.>)   Upiniin,  iuuimhiMui  Griffiths.  Bull.  Torr.  Club  43:  52.i.    1916. 

Usually  low  and  spreading,  small  and  inconspicuous,  but  sometimes  forming  mounds  2  dm.  high  in 
the  center  and  4  dm.  in  diameter,  with  hundreds  of  joints;  joints  fragile  (the  terminal  ones  especially 
breaking  off  at  the  slightest  touch),  often  nearly  globular  but  sometimes  decidedly  flattened,  usually  dark- 
green,  1  to  4  cm.  long;  areoles  closely  set,  small,  filled  with  white  wool;  spines  5  to  7,  brown  or  only 
with  brown  tips  and  lighter  below,  1  to  3  cm.  long;  glochids  yellowish;  flowers  pale  yellow,  about  5  cm. 
broad;  fruit  dry,  spiny,  1.5  to  2  cm.  long,  with  a  truncate  or  slightly  depressed  umbilicus;  seeds  large, 
5  to  7  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality.    "From  the  Mandans  to  the  mountains,  in  sterile  but  moist  situations." 

Distribution:  Wisconsin  to  central  Kansas  and  northwestern  Texas,  westward  to  Arizona, 
Oregon,  Washington,  and  British  Columbia. 

Dr.  Engelmann  says  "it  is  rarely  found  in  flower  and  still  more  rarely  seen  in  fruit."  The 
only  fruit  we  have  seen  was  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Liberal,  Kansas,  in  1912. 

Opuntia  hvacbyarthra,  sometimes  regarded  as  a  variety  of  O.  fragilis.  we  regard  as  not  spe- 
cifically separable  from  that  species.  An  examination  of  the  type  material  now  preserved  in  the 
Missouri  Botanical  Garden  does  not  warrant  a  separation  of  any  kind. 

This  species  is  of  wide  distribution  and  is  especially  common  on  the  plains.  It  usually 
grows  low,  often  being  hidden  by  the  grass.  In  the  grazing  country  it  is  a  most  troublesome 
weed,  for  the  joints  easily  break  off  and  become  attached  by  their  spines  to  passing  objects, 
thus  greatly  annoying  and  pestering  all  animals  on  the  range,  even  frightening  horses.  The 
wide  distribution  of  the  species  is  doubtless  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  the  joints  are  so  easily 


194  THE  CACTACEAE. 

scattered.  A  hybrid  with  O.  toitisp/iia  has  been  found  in  Kansas  (Rose,  No.  17132). 

The  plant  is  of  especial  interest  as  the  most  northern  in  distribution  of  the  opuntias. 

It  is  stated  that  0/)//;///'^  fcrr/Von/w  Spath  (Cat.  136.  1906-7)  is  "probably  a  hybrid  of 
which  O. /w?/7«  is  a  parent"  (Kew  Bull.  Misc.  Inf.  1907:  App.  74.  1907).  O.  .wih'niii  (Pfeif- 
fer,  Enum.  Cact.  147.    1837)  was  given  as  a  synonym  of  O.  jragi/is. 

lllustrcitio>u:  Cact.  Journ.  1:  100;  Diet.  Gard.  Nicholson  2:  f.  752;  Forster,  Handb.  Cact. 
ed.  2.  f.  132;  Gartenflora  30:  413;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  12,  f.  9;  Riimpler,  Sukkulenten  f.  126;  W. 
Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  f.  78;  Wiener  Illustr.  Gartenz.  10:  f.  113,  all  as  Opioit'ni  brachyurthra. 
lUustr.  Fl.  2:  f.  2532;  ed.  2.  2:  f.  2991;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  24,  f.  5;  Watson,  Cact.  Cult.  ed.  3. 
f.  55;  Deutsche  Giirt.  Zeit.  7:  313,  Remark,  Kakteenfreund  22,  as  Opunt'ia  brachyaythru;  Schelle, 
Handb.  Kakteenk.  56,  f.  15,  as  O.  fragilis  brachyarthrci:  Meehans'  Monthly  II:  57. 

Plate  XXXV,  figure  1,  shows  old  and  young  joints  of  the  plant  collected  by  C.  Birdseye  at 
Florence,  Montana,  in  1910.  Figure  239  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  taken  by  E.  R. 
Warren  at  San  Acacio,  Colorado,  in  1912. 


fSm 

Jf* 

i        -vl 

1   ^-^ttF 

?^ 

.A^>'l 

^ra^^lie^aoMl 

i 

-^mK 

^^ 

"> ''  ij^K^^^B 

a^^^f^str^ 

*l 

i^^ 

<lrir'3i 

^^fjjjtjBI^^BBI 

|'^''-^R9n 

t^  ^JMrCTaKiy"  >• ' 

"JnMj^ 

^^^BvmSB 

fe^g 

l^i^'4 

S 

ifl^^ra 

^^P@ 

S^^ffl^T  " 

m 

1^!^^^ 

^0'pi 

K«l>* 

Fig.  239. — Opuntia  fiagilis. 

217.    Opuntia  arenaria  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  301.    1856. 

Roots  in  clusters  of  10  to  15,  spindle-form,  somewhat  fleshy;  stem  prostrate,  2  to  3  dm.  loni;,  much 
branched;  joints  during  growing  season  quite  turgid,  afterwards  much  thinner,  4  to  8  cm.  long,  half  as 
broad  as  long;  areoles  large,  numerous,  filled  with  brown  wool,  glochids,  and  spines;  spines  5  to  8  from  an 
areole,  2  or  3  much  longer  than  the  others,  sometimes  4  cm.  long;  flowers  red,  7  cm.  broad;  fruit  dry, 
spiny,  3  cm.  long;  seeds  large,  7  cm.  broad. 

Type  locality:   Sandy  bottoms  of  the  Rio  Grande  near  El  Paso. 

DistiJbi/tion:  Texas  and  southern  New  Mexico. 

This  species  is  very  rare  and  has  been  reported  only  a  few  times.  Dr.  Rose,  who  has  re- 
peatedly collected  at  El  Paso,  was  never  able  to  find  it  until  October  1913,  and  then  but  a 
single  plant  about  8  miles  above  El  Paso  on  the  New  Mexican  side  of  the  Rio  Grande.  It 
grows  in  nearly  pure  sand  not  far  above  the  level  of  the  river. 


Plant  of  OpiiiiliA  jyagilis.  2.     Flowering;  branch  of  Of'/iiUht  rhnj.viih.. 

3.    Flowerini;  joint  of  Opiintui  poly.uwilha.    (All  natural  size.) 


195 


lllustrat'iov:  Cact.  Mex.  Bt)und.  pi.  75,  f.  15. 
Figure  240  is  from  a  drawing  iit  the  plant  a 


lected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  El  Paso,  Texas,  in 


ritton  and  Rose,  Smiths,  Misc.  Coll.  50:  535.  1908. 
AmcM.  Acad.  3:  30U.     1856. 


i9i; 

218.  Opuntia  trichophora  (Engelmann) 

OpHiUij  missouriensis  trichuphora  Engelmann,    Pre 

Opuiuiu  polyacantha  trichophora  Coulter,  Contr.   Li.  S.  Nut.  Herb.  3:  137.     1896. 

A  low,  spreading  plant,  often  forming  small  clumps  6  to  10  dm.  in  diameter;  joints  orbicular  to 
obovate,  6  to  10  cm.  in  diameter;  areoles  closely  set;  spines  numerous,  very  unequal,  the  longer  one  4  cm. 
long  or  so,  acicular,  pale,  often  white,  but  on  old  joints  developing  into  long,  weak  hair  like  bristles; 
flowers  yellow,  the  sepals  tinged  with  red;  ovary  with  numerous  areoles,  these  bearing  weak,  pale  bristles; 
fruit  unknown. 

Type  locality :    Mountains  near  Albuc]uerc|ue,  New 
Mexico. 

Distribi/tioii:    New  Mexico,  Texas,  and  Oklahoma. 

This  plant,  while  closely  related  to  Opuntia  polya- 
cantha, seems  worthy  of  specific  rank,  its  long  weak  spines 
being   apparently  characteristic.     Its   northern   extension 
into  Oklahoma  has  recently  been  determined 
from  plants  collected  by  G.  W.  Stevens. 

lllnstrations:  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  15,  f.  1 
to  4;  pi.  23,  f.  19,  all  as  Opuntia  missouri- 
ensis  tiichophora. 

Figure  241  is  copied  fix)m  the  first  illus- 
tration above  cited. 


Fig.  240. — Opuntia  arena 


-Opu 


219.  Opuntia  erinacea  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  301.     1856. 

Opunl'ui  uniiui  Weber,  Diet.  Hurt.   Bois  896.      1898. 

Opuntia  nruis   horribilis  Walton,   Cact.  Journ.   2:    152.      1899. 

Growing  in  small,  low  clumps,  the  branches  ascending  or  erect;  joints  ovate  to  oblong,  flattened  or 
thick,  sometimes  nearly  terete,  8  to  12  cm.  long;  areoles  somewhat  tuberculate,  large,  numerous,  closely 
set,  4  to  10  mm.  apart;  spines  numerous,  usually  white  or  sometimes  brownish  or  with  brown  tips,  slen- 
der, often  5  cm.,  sometimes  12  cm.  long  or  even  more,  stiff,  often  developing  on  the  old  joints  as  long 
hairs  or  bristles;  glochids  numerous;  flowers  rather  large,  6  to  7  cm.  long,  either  red  or  yellow;  ovary  and 
fruit  very  spiny;  seeds  large,  rather  regular. 

Type  locality:    On  Mojave  Creek,  California. 

Distribution:  Northwestern  Arizona,  southern  Utah,  southern  Nevada,  and  eastern 
California. 


196 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


This  species  lias  long  been  passing  under  die  name  of  Opunt'ia  nilila  Nutrall  (Torrey  and 
Gray,  Fl.  N.  Amer.  1:  555.  1840).  Dr.  Engelmann  referred  it  diere  in  die  Report  of  Simp- 
son's Expedition  (page  442),  and  again  in  the  Botany  of  CaUfornia,  with  the  remark  that 
"this  plant  seems  to  be  Nuttall's  long  lost  O.  n/tihi."  And  while  it  is  true  that  the  identi- 
fication of  Nuttall's  plant  is  still  doubtful,  it  seems  improbable  that  this  reference  is  correct, 


Fig.  242. — Opuntia  ennacea. 

for  the  description  does  not  agree  with  that  of  the  above,  and  the  original  station  of  0.  rutila 
in  "Wyoming  is  far  removed  from  the  other;  keen  collectors  like  A.  Nelson  and  V.  Bailey,  who 
have  searched  for  the  plant  for  us,  have  failed  to  find  it  in  Wyoming.  Wq  suspect  that  O. 
rutila  will  prove  to  be  O.  polyacantha. 

Opuntia  ursina.  which  comes  from  the  Mojave  Desert,  seems  to  be  only  a  slender  form 
with  long  weak  spines.  This  is  known  in  the  trade  as  the  California  grizzly  bear  cactus. 
Alverson  has  described  it  as  follows:  "This  curious  plant  is  covered  with  tawny  white  hairs 
or  flexuous  spines,  some  of  which  are  from  3  to  6  inches  long,  and  I  have  some  extra  fine 


OPUNTIA. 


ly? 


specimens  wirh  the  spines  or  hairs  9  and  12  inches  long." 

lllust)atioiis:  Alverson,  Cact.  Cat.  9  as  Opnnt'ui  Hvshia;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  13,  f.  8  to 
11;  pi.  24,  f.  4;  Cact.  Journ.  1:  93,  as  Opuntia;  Moliers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9, 
No.  Ic;  Cycl.  Amer.  Hort.  Bailey  3:  1149.  f.  1548;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  2363.  f.  2603, 
as  0.  urs'ina;  Meehans'  Monthly  4:  9;  Monatssschr.  Kakteenk.  14:  105;  N.  Amer.  Fauna  7: 
pi.  II,  as  O.  rutila. 

Figure  242  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  taken  by  F.  B.  Headley  at  a  point  about  29 
miles  east  of  Fallon,  Nevada,  in  1910. 

220.  Opuntia  juniperina  sp.  nov. 

Somewhat  of  the  habit  of  Opuntia  palyacaniha.  but  not  so  procumbent,  stouter,  and  with  fewer  and 
stouter  spines;  joints  obovate,  10  to  12  cm.  long,  broad,  rounded  at  top;  areoles  small,  all  below  the 
middle  of  the  joint  naked,  the  upper  ones  each  bearing  one  stout  spine  and  1  to  several  very  short 
accessory  ones;  the  longer  spine  very  stout,  3  to  4  cm.  long,  brown;  flowers  not  known;  fruit  dry,  ob- 
long,  3  cm.  long,  spineless,  with  a  shallow,  flat  umbilicus;  seeds  large,  irregular,  6  to  8  mm.  broad. 


^Jom 

of  Opunt 

,1  juni- 

FiG.    244.— Seed 

penna 

.     xO.5. 

of  same.     xO.5 

On  dry  hills  among  junipers  in  vicinity  of  Cedar  Hill,  San  Juan  County,  New  Mexico, 
altitude  about  1,900  meters,  August  17,  1911,  Paul  C.  Standley  (No.  8051)'. 

This  species  is  nearest  Opniit'ia  rhoddiitha,  but  has  stouter  joints  and  much  larger  seeds. 
Figure  243  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen;  figure  244  represents  a  seed. 

221.  Opuntia  hystricina  Engelmann  and  Bigelou',  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  299-     1856. 

More  or  less  diffuse;  joints  obovate  to  orbicular,  8  to  20  cm.  long;  areoles  numerous,  10  to  15  mm. 
apart,  rather  large;  spines  numerous,  pale  brown  to  white,  the  longer  ones  5  to  10  cm.  long,  stout,  flat- 
fish, often  reflexed ;  glochids  yellow;  flowers  6  cm.  long;  petals  broad,  yellow;  ovary  nearly  globular; 
fruit  oblong  to  obovoid,  2.5  to  3  cm.  long,  spiny  above,  dry,  witii  a  compressed  umbilicus;  seeds  7  mm. 
broad. 

"["ipc  locality:    Colorado  Chiquito  and  on  San  Francisco  Mountains. 

D'ntr'ibitt'ion:    New  Mexico  to  Arizona  and  Nevada. 

Although  this  species  has  a  wide  range,  it  is  not  very  well  understood;  it  approaches 
0.  rhodiintha  in  some  of  its  forms.  We  have  referred  here  a  very  remarkable  form  collected 
by  E.  W.  Nelson  at  Lee's  Ferry,  Arizona,  in  1909.  This  plant  has  thick,  obovate  joints  17  to 
22   cm.    long,   strongly   tubcrcul.irc,    wirli    sonn-   of   (Ik-   spines   very   strong,   fl.ittcncd,   .ind    re- 


198 


THE  CACTACEAE, 


flexed;  the  fruit  is  very  spiny;  the  seeds  are  8  mm.  broad,  angled,  with  mari;ine  thin  and 
acute.  This  may  be  the  plant  listed  in  Weinberg's  catalogue,  also  from  the  Grand  Canyon, 
under  the  name  of  Opinitia  hochdeiffeii. 

OpiDitia  xerocarpa  Griffiths  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington  29:  15.  1916),  from  King- 
man, Arizona,  is  of  this  relationship,  described  as  "readily  distinguished  from  other  species  of 
its  dry-fruited  allies  by  its  spines,  shape  of  joints  and  color  of  plant  body." 

lllustrathns:   Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  15,  f.  5  to  7;  pi.  23,  f.  15. 

Figure  245  is  copied  from  the  first  illustration  above  cited. 

222.  Opuntia  rhodantha  Schumann,  La  Semaine  Hort.     1897. 

1 89.S. 


Opuntia 


Dithostemma  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  735. 
iihensh  J.  A.  Purpus,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  19: 


Joints  obovate  to  oblong,  5  to  12  cm.  long;  areoles  distant,  10  mm.  apart  or  more;  spines  rather 
stout,  3  or  4,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  brownish,  with  2  or  3  short  accessory  ones;  lower  areoles  usually  naked; 
glochids  brown ;  flowers,  including  ovaries,  5  to  6  cm.  long,  8  cm.  broad ;  petals  red  or  pink  to  salmon- 
colored,  obovate,  apiculate;  stamens  red  or  yellow;  fruit  spiny;  seeds  small,  5  mm.  in  diameter. 

Type  locality:  Colorado,  at  2,000  to  2,300  meters  altitude. 

Distribution:   Western  Nebraska,  Colorado,  and  Utah. 

After  a  careful  examination  of  living  plants  of  both  O.  rhodaiithd  and  0.  Xtnithostentnia, 
we  feel  convinced  that  the  latter  is  only  a  form  of  the  other.  The  color  of  the  stamens  in 
the  opuntias  does  not  furnish  a  constant  character.  It  is  hardy  in  cultivation  at  New  York 
and  highly  ornamental  when  in  bloom. 

Haage  and  Schmidt,  in  their  1915  cata- 
logue, list  several  varieties  of  this  species: 
brevispina,  jlavispina,  piscijormis,  and  schu- 
manniana;  and  under  Opuntia  xanthostetmna 
in  the  same  place  they  list  the  following  varie- 
ties: elegans,  julgens,  gracilis,  orbicularis,  and 
rosea. 

lllustratio}is:  Meehan's  Monthly  7:  133; 
Gartenwelt  1:  83,  this  last  as  Opuntia  xantho- 
stemma;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  19:  135,  this 
last  as  Opuntia  utahensis;  Monatsschr.  Kak- 
teenk.   30:  153,  as  Opuntia  xanthostemma. 

Plate  XXXV,  figure  2,  represents  a  flow- 
ering plant  received  by  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden  from  Haage  and  Schmidt,  of  Erfurt, 
Germany,  in  1913- 


-Opuntia 


locarpa.     x().66. 


223.  Opuntia  sphaerocarpa  Engelmann  and   Bigelow,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  300.    1856. 

Small,  spreading  plants;  joints  orbicular,  6  to  7  cm.  broad,  thickish,  strongly  tuberculate,  wrinkled 
in  drying,  light  green  or  becoming  more  or  less  purple;  areoles  8  to  10  mm.  apart,  mostly  spineless  or 
the  upper  and  marginal  ones  bearing  short  acicular  spines,  the  longest  ones  about  2  cm.  long;  glochids 
yellow;  flowers  not  known;  fruit  naked,  IS  mm.  in  diameter,  with  a  truncate  umbilicus;  seeds  5  mm. 
broad,  very  irregular. 

Type  locality:   Mountains  near  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico. 
Distribution:   Known  only  from  type  locality. 

We  have  not,  with  certainty,  identified  any  recently  collected  plants  with  this  species,  al- 
though some  New  Mexican  specimens  appear  to  be  referable  to  it. 
Illustrations:   Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  13,  f.  6,  7;  pi.  24,  f.  3. 
Figure  246  is  copied  from  the  first  illustration  above  cited. 


OPUNTIA. 
Opuntia  polyacantha  Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  82 

C/1//M   /.).\  Nuttill    Gen    PI    1     296      1818.     Not  Willdcnov 
Opiniti  I  »,// 1  Hiwoub    Suppl    PI    Succ.  82, 


199 


1819. 

1813. 


0^,«// 

W/M      II 

0/>/,»// 

^pluil 

Opm  // 

nil  1 1  < 

Opm,l, 

1  in  Mill 

O 

,  ijinei 

Op„nl, 

Upunu 

tmnuiii 

Opuntta  poh  " 

Opr/nli 

t  poh  ti 

Up,<nl, 

•  p..h 

Opnni, 

ip  h 

Opnnu 

1 II 

Op,n  1, 

1819. 
De   Cindolle    Prodr.    3:    472.      1828. 
UK    Pttifter    hnum    Oct.    159.  1837. 

inninn  ilhnpini  Engelmann    and  Bigelow,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  .3:   300.      1856 
i/(«(/i  micicuptiiiiii    Engelmann     and    Bibelow,    Proc.    Amer.    Acad.    3;    300. 
■/uei  miciospeim  I  Engelmann,  Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  295.     1856 
iiemii  platycai p  I   Engelmann,    P.oc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  300.     1856. 
ininii  mlnpint  Engelmann   and    Bigelow,  Proc,  Amer,  Acad,  3:   300,      1856, 
■inn  n  Mi/nniwn    Engelmann,    Proc.  Amer.  Acad.  3:  300.      1856. 
1,1'/  ,  dlnpnii  Coulter   Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  437.     1896. 
I   :     I    ,     I      Coulter    Contr.   U.  S,  Nat,  Herb.  3:  436,     1896, 
;   Coulter,   Contr.   U,  S,  Nat,  Herb,  3:  436,     1896, 
Coulter    Comr.  U,  S,  Nat,  Herb.  3:  437.     1896. 
Jichumann,    Gesamtb.  Kakteen  735.     1898. 
1     II   inn    Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:   148,      1899. 


Fig.  247. — Opuntia  polyacantha. 

Low,  spreadin^y  plants,  with  hbrous  roots,  usually  forming  small  clumps;  joints  not  very  thick,  orbic- 
ular, usually  less  than  10  cm.  in  diameter,  generally  light  green;  areoles  small,  closely  set,  usually  less 
than  1  cm.  apart,  all  spiny;  spines  numerous,  often  9,  those  from  the  sides  mostly  short,  appressed,  and 
white,  but  often  1  or  2  of  these  elongated  and  like  those  from  the  upper  and  marginal  areoles,  dark 
brown,  with  lighter  tips  and  about  3  cm.  long;  glochids  yellow;  flowers  small,  4  to  5  cm.  long,  includ- 
ing the  ovary;  sepals  tinged  with  red;  petals  lemon-yellow;  stigma-lobes  green;  fruit  dry,  oblong,  2  cm. 
long,  bearing  small  clusters  of  white,  acicular  spines  at  the  areoles;  seeds  white,  6  mm.  long,  acute  on 
the  margin. 

Type  locdlity:   Arid  situations  on  the  plains  of  the  Missouri. 

Distiibiitioir.  North  Dakota  to  Nebraska,  northwestern  Oklahoma,  Texas,  and  Arizona 
to  Utah,  Washington,  and  Alberta. 

Opnntid  sphaerocarpa  utaheusis  Engelmann  (Trans.  St.  Louis  Acad.  2:  199.  1863)  can 
not  be  referred  to  O.  sphaerocarpci.  where  Dr.  Engelmann  only  provisionally  placed  it  when  he 
first  described  it.  On  account  of  its  yellow  flowers  we  have  referred  it  here.  Opmit'hi  poly- 
acantha  Diicrospcriiui  and  O.  pulydCciulha  nifisphia,  mentioned  in  Bailey"s  Standard  Cyclopedia 


200 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


of  Hurciculture  (3:  2363.    1916),  belong  here. 

Opuntia  polyacautha  was  one  of  the  first  of  our  western  opuntias  to  be  collected  and 
described.  It  was  first  collected  by  Thomas  Nuttall  on  his  memorable  trip  to  the  Upper 
Missouri.  He  described  it  in  1818  as  Citctits  jerox.  a  name  which  had  been  previously  used 
by  Willdenow,  which  led  A.  H.  Haworth  in  1819  to  rename  Nuttall's  plant,  calling  it  Opun- 
tia polyacantha.  At  the  same  place  Haworth  published  a  second  name,  Opiiutia  media,  un- 
doubtedly based  on  a  less  spiny  form  of  O.  polsacantha.  In  1828  Nuttall's  plant  was  again 
renamed,  this  time  by  A.  De  Candolle,  who  called  it  Opuntia  inissouriensis.  under  which  name 
it  was  known  for  many  years.  In  1896  Dr.  John  M.  Coulter  very  properly  restored  Haworth's 
name  0.  polyacantha. 

This  species  has  a  wide  distribution  laterally  and  ultitudinally.  It  is  properly  a  plains' 
species,  but  is  found  in  mountain  valleys  and  on  dry  hills,  usually  in  the  open,  but  sometimes 
in  sparse  pine  woods.  In  a  species  of  such  wide  distribution  and  growing  under  such  diverse 
circumstances,  a  wide  range  of  forms  is  to  h~  expected  and  a  number  of  varieties  have  been 
proposed  for  the  various  races,  some  of  which  may  perhaps  have  red  flowers.  The  plant  is 
hardy  at  New  York,  flowering  freely  in  June. 

Illustrations:  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  115:  pi.  7046;  lUustr.  Fl.  2:  f.  2531;  ed.  2.  2:  f.  2990; 
N.  Mex.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  78:  pi.  [3];  Cact.  Journ.  1 :  167;  Gard.  Chron.  50:  340,  the  last 
two  as  Opuntia  niissouriensis;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  14,  f.  8  to  10;  pi.  23,  f.  18,  the  last  two  as 
Opuntia  niissouriensis  albispina;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  14,  f.  5  to  7;  pi.  24,  f.  1,  2,  the  last  two 
as  Opuntia  niissouriensis  viicrospernia;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4:  pi.  14,  f.  4;  pi.  23,  f.  17,  these  last  two 
as  Opuntia  niissouriensis  platycarpa;  Pac.  R.  Rep.  4;  pi.  14,  f.  1  to  3;  pi.  23,  f.  16,  these  last  two 
as  Opuntia  niissouriensis  rufispina;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  9:  148,  this  last  as  Opuntia  schwer- 
iniana;  Rep.  Mo.  Bot.  Gard.  13:  pi.  opp.  13;  Schelle,  Handb.  Kakteenk.  54.  f.  14,  as  Opuntia 
niissouriensis;  MoUers  Deutsche  Gart.  Zeit.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  6,  as  O.  schweriniana;  Scientific 
American  124:  492;  Meehans'  Monthly  II:  57;  Stand.  Cycl.  Hort.  Bailey  4:  f.  2604. 

Plate  xxxv,  figure  3,  represents  a 
flowering  joint  of  the  plant  collected 
by  Dr.  Rose  in  western  Kansas  in 
1912.  Figure  247  represents  joints 
of  the  plant  from  Colorado,  photo- 
graphed by  T.  'W.  Smillic. 

Series  24.  STENOPETALAE. 

This  is  an  anomalous  group  in 
Opuntia,  since  the  flowers  are  dioecious 
and  the  petals  are  linear  and  more  or  less 
erect.  It  contains  three  species  which  are 
very  different  in  habit  and  color  of  spines, 
but  which  were  all  united  into  a  single 
species  by  Professor  Schumann.  Dr.  En- 
gelmann  was  so  much  impressed  by  the 
peculiar  structure  of  the  flowers  of  this 
group  that  he  proposed  for  it  a  new  sub- 
genus, Stenopnnlia. 

Key  to  Species 

Spines  dark ;  plants  low, 

prostrate 225.  O.  sitiiiopehihi 

Spines  white;  plants  erect. 
Joints  narrow ;  spines 

acicular 226.  O.  glaucesct'iis 

Joints  broader;  spines 

stouter 227.  O.  grairdis 


225.    Opuntia  stenopetala  Engelmann,  Proc. 
Low   bushy    plant,     often    forming   tliickcts,    t 
edges  of  the  joints;   joints   obovate   to   orbicular, 


Amer.  Acad.  3:  289.   1856. 

ic    main    branches    procumbent    and    resting    on    the 
to  2  dm.  long,  grayish  green,  but  often  more  or  less 


201 


purplish,  very  spiny;  areoles  often  remote,  1  to  3  tm.  apart,  the  lower  ones  often  without  spines,  bear- 
ing white  wool  when  young;  leaves  only  on  young  joints,  spreading,  dark  red,  about  2  mm.  long;  spines 
usually  reddish  brown  to  black,  but  sometimes  becoming  pale,  usually  2  to  4,  the  longest  ones  5  cm. 
long,  the  larger  ones  somewhat  flattened;  glochids  very  abundant  on  young  joints,  brown;  flowers 
dioecious,  small,  including  the  ovary  only  3  cm.  long;  petals  orange-red,  very  narrow,  10  to  12  mm. 
long,  with  long  acuminate  tips;  fihiments  short;  style  very  thick  in  the  middle,  the  male  flowers  with 
an  abortive,  pointed  style,  but  female  flowers  with  8  or  y  yellow  stigma-lobes  on  style;  ovary  leafy,  the 
upper  leaves  similar  to  the  sepals;  fruit  globular,  3  cm.  in  diameter,  acid,  naked  or  spiny;  seeds  small, 
smooth,  3  mm.  in  diameter,  with  broad,  rounded  margins. 

Type  locality:  On  battlefield  of  Buena  Vista,  south  of  SaltiUo,  Mexico. 

Distribution:  In  States  of  Coahuila  to  Queretaro  and  Hidalgo,  central  Mexico. 

Referred  by  Schumann  to  O.  glaucescens,  but  surely  a  distinct  species,  as  indicated  by 
Berger   (Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.   14:   71.    1904). 

Although  in  its  habit  this  Opuntia  is  much  like  many  others,  its  flowers  are  unique,  the 
petals  being  very  narrow  and  erect;  it  is  a  very  beautiful  plant,  and  at  flowering  time  is  cov- 
ered with  numerous,  small,  beautiful  flowers.  Dr.  Griffiths  states  that  it  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  ornamental  opuntias,  and  that  it  is  hardy  in  southern  California. 

llliistYdtioui:  Cact.  Mex.  Bound,  pi.  66;  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  14:  172.  f.  1;  The  Gar- 
den 62:  425;  Mollers  Deutsche  Glirt.  25:  476.  f.  9,  No.  17. 

Figure  248  is  from  a  photograph  of  a 
fruiting  joint  of  a  specimen  collected  by 
Dr.  Edward  Palmer  near  Saltillo,  Mexico, 
in  1905;  figure  249  is  copied  from  the 
illustration  first  above  cited. 

226.  Opuntia     glaucescens     Salm  -  Dyck, 
Hort.  Dyck.  362.    1834. 

Probably  erect;  joints  erect,  obiong-obovate, 
12  to  15  cm.  long,  5  cm.  broad,  sometimes  nar- 
rowed at  both  ends,  pale  green,  glaucous,  usu- 
ally purplish  around  the  areoles;  leaves  small, 
reddish  when  young;  areoles  filled  with  gray 
wool;  spines  1  to  4,  elongated,  acicular,  white, 
2.5  cm.  long;  glochids  brownish  to  rose-colored. 

Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Mexico,  but  range  un- 
known. 

The  flowers  were  not  known  when  the  species  was  first  described  and  we  do  not  know 
that  they  have  since  been  observed.  It  has  long  been  in  cultivation,  but  specimens  grown 
under  glass  at  New  York  have  not  flowered. 

227.  Opuntia  grandis  Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.   155.    1837. 

More  or  less  erect,  6  dm.  high  or  more;  joints  oblong,  12  to  18  cm.  long,  erect,  when  young 
reddish,  glaucous;  leaves  rose-colored;  spines  few,  white;  flowers  small,  a  little  open,  2  cm.  broad; 
petals  few,  narrowly  lanceolate,  12  mm.  long;  filaments  reddish;  style  shorter  than  the  stamens,  rose- 
colored  ;  stigma-lobes  2  or  3,  acute. 

Type  locality:  In  Mexico. 

Distribution:  Mexico,  but  range  unknown. 

Referred  by  Schumann  to  O.  glaucescens,  but  doubtless  distinct,  as  indicated  by  Berger. 

Illustration:  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.   14:    172.  f.  2. 


Opuntia  stenopetala. 


Series  25.  PALMADORAE. 

An  erect  plant  with  narrow  flat  joints,  small,  brick-red  flowers,  and  apparently  erect  stamens;  the 
epidermis  densely  papillose-tuberculate  when  dry.  The  flowers  suggest  those  of  the  Sp'nwsissimae,  but 
otherwise  the  plant  is  quite  different.  The  series  consists  of  a  single  species,  from  the  catinga  region  of 
eastern  Brazil. 


202 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


228.  Opuntia  palmadora  sp.  nov. 

Plant  often  3  meters  lii^li,  sometimes  even  5,  but  often  low;  trunk  some- 
times 9  cm.  in  diameter,  sometimes  with  brown,  smooth  bark,  but  usually  very 
spiny;  branches  numerous,  usually  erect,  at  times  forming  a  compact,  almost 
globular  top,  at  other  times  quite  open ;  joints  unusually  thin  and  narrow,  1  to 
1.5  dm.  long,  generally  erect,  very  spiny;  leaves  subulate,  minute,  3  to  ^  mm. 
long,  green  with  reddish  tips,  found  only  on  very  young  joints;  areoles  filled 
with  white  wool ;  spines  usually  1  to  4,  sometimes  6,  from  an  areole,  all  yellow 
at  first,  in  age  white,  the  largest  one  porrect,  3  cm.  long;  petals  erect  or  only 
slightly  spreading,  brick-red  in  color;  stamens  short,  erect;  filaments  orange- 
colored;  style  cream-colored;  stigma-lobes  white;  ovary  broadly  turbinate,  2  cm. 
long,  tuberculate;  fruit  small. 

Collected  by  Rose  and  Russell  at  Barriiiha,  Bahia.  Brazil,  June  7, 
8,  1915  (No.  19787). 

This  plant  is  common  in  the  semiarid  parts  of  Bahia,  where  it  is 
known  as  palmadora  or  palmatoria.  Johnston  and  Tryon  describe  it 
briefly  without  giving  it  a  name  in  their  Report  of  the  Prickly-Pear 
Travelling  Commission,  104.    191  i. 

Figure  250  represents  joints  of  the  type  plant;  figure  251  is  from 
a  photograph  of  the  wild  plant  from  which  the  above  was  taken. 

Series  26.  SPINOSISSIMAE. 

Erect  species,  mostly  tall,  with  terete,  continuous,  unjointed,  usually  densely 
spiny  trunks,  the  ultimate  branches  spreading  or  divaricate,  flat,  usually  elongated,      Fk,,  250.- 
spiny  or  sometimes  unarmed ;  flowers  small,  yellow,  orange  or  red,  or  changing 
from  yellow  to  red;   fruit  fleshy.    We  recognize  seven    species,   all   natives   of   the   West 
series  represents  the  genus  Coiisolea  of  Lemaire. 


-O.  pain 


I'lc.   ^-^l-     ()|Mn,h,,   pjlMMa.iM     A   iliuk.i   ,1,   H.ihi.i,  Fig.   252.— Opuntia   n.isliii. 

Ki;v  TO  Species. 

Areoles  of  the  joints  distant,  2  to  -i  cm.  apart. 

Spines  few,  3  cm.  long  or  less,  or  none. 

Areoles  elevated,  bearinj;  2  to  5  grayish  spines  3  to  6  cm.  long 229.  O 

Areoles  scarcely  elevated,  spineless  or  with  1  to  4  weak  yellow  spines  1  to  2  cm.  long.  .    230.  O 

Spines,  when  present,  many,  the  older  up  to  12  cm.  long 231.  O 

Areoles  of  the  joints  closer  together,  1  to  1.5  cm.  apart. 

Spines  of  the  trunk-areoles,  or  most  of  them,  deflexed. 

Young  spines  straw-colored  or  whitish;  plant  up  to  5  m.  tall 232.  O 

Young  spines  purple;  plant  6  dm.  high  or  less 233.  O 

Spines  of  the  trunk-areoles,  when  present,  spreading. 

Joints  distinctly  reticulate-areolate,  light  green;  ovary  prominently  tuberculate 234.  O 

Joints  indistinctly  reticulate-areolate,  mostly  dark  green  or  reddish;  ovary  low-tuberculate    235.  O 


.  nashii 
hahamana 
macracaniha 


mnnilifortiih 
rtibeicens 


203 


229.  Opuntia  nashii  Britton,  Bull.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  3:   1 16. 
1905. 

Tree-like,  or  sometimes  bushy,  dull  green ;  main  axis  round, 
1  to  4  meters  high,  5  to  12  cm.  in  diameter,  spiny;  branches  flat  or 
becoming  round  below,  the  principal  ones  continuous,  1  meter  long 
or  more,  6  cm.  wide  or  less,  crenate,  blunt ;  lateral  branches  opposite 
or  alternate,  oblong  to  linear-oblong,  often  3  dm.  long,  and  8  cm. 
wide,  only  about  6  mm.  thick,  blunt,  crenate;  areoles  1  to  3  cm.  apart, 
slightly  elevated;  spines  mostly  5  at  each  areole  (2  to  5),  divergent, 
slender,  straight,  light  gray,  pungent,  the  longer  3  to  6  cm.  long; 
glochids  very  small,  brownish;  ovary  3  cm.  long,  1.5  cm.  thick,  some- 
what clavate,  tubercled,  the  tubercles  bearing  areoles  and  spines  similar 
to  those  of  the  joints,  but  the  spines  somewhat  shorter;  flowers  1.5 
cm.  broad  when  expanded,  red;  petals  broadly  oval  to  obovate,  blunt, 
about  8  mm.  long,  much  longer  than  the  stamens. 

Type  locality:  Inagua,  Bahamas. 

Distribution:  Andios,  Crooked  Island,  Fortune  Island, 
Atwood  Cay,  Caicos  Islands,  Turks  Islands,  Ship  Channel  Cay, 
and  Inagua,  Bahamas. 

Figure  252  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  at  Matthew 
Town,  Inagua,  Bahamas,  taken  by  George  V.  Nash,  in  1904; 
figure  253  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  from  the  same 
place  in  the  collection  of  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden. 

llhistvation:  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  6:  f.  3. 

230.  Opuntia  bahamana  sp.  nov. 

Branched  from  near  the  base,  bushy,  about  1.5  m.  high;  joints 
oblong  to  lanceolate,  flat,  and  thin,  1  to  5  dm.  long,  4  to  10  cm. 
wide,  dull  green,  obtuse,  scarcely  undulate;  leaves  red,  subulate,  3  cm. 
long;  areoles  1.5  to  3  cm.  apart,  scarcely  elevated,  about  2  mm.  in 
diameter,  spineless,  or  bearing  1  to  4  acicular  yellow  spines  2  cm. 
long  or  less  when  young;  glochids  few  and  short;  flower  about  6  cm. 
broad;  petals  obovate,  rose-tinted  below,  yellowish  rose  above;  sepals 
dark  rose,  whitish  margined. 

Distribution:  Rocky  slopes.  The  Bright,  Cat  Island,  Ba- 
hamas, collected  by  N.  L.  Britton  and  C.  F.  Millspaugh, 
March  1907,  No.  579-i. 

This  plant  was  tentatively  referred  by  us  (Smiths.  Misc. 
Coll.  50:  525.  1908)   to  Opmitia  Icuiceohita  Haworth.    It  has  Fig.  253.— Opunti.i  n.ishii. 

been  grown  under  glass  at  New  York  ever  since,  but  does  not  respond  well  to  greenhouse 
conditions. 

It  is  here  included  in  the  series  Spinosissinnie.  but  with  hesitation,  its  bushy  habit  and 
larger  flowers  being  anomalous  in  this  group. 

Figure  254  represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen  above  cited;  figure  255  is  copied  from 
a  sketch  of  a  flower  made  by  Dr.  Millspaugh  on  Cat  Island,  when  the  plant  was  discovered. 

231.  Opuntia  macracantha  Grisebach,  Cat.  PI.  Cub.  116.    1866. 

Erect,  the  trunk  up  to  15  cm.  in  diameter,  its  areoles  1  to  2  cm.  broad,  bearing  many  brownish 
glochids  and  several  divergent  spines  15  cm.  long  or  less;  upper  portion  of  the  trunk,  and  the  ultimate, 
oblong,  or  oblong-ovate,  spreading  branches  flat,  green,  faintly  shining,  the  areoles  2  to  3  cm.  apart, 
scarcely  elevated,  the  numerous  glochids  brown;  spines  1  to  4,  up  to  15  cm.  long,  nearly  white,  stout,' 
subulate,  or  wanting;  flowers  often  numerous;  ovary  2.5  to  3  cm.  long,  densely  beset  with  glochid-bear- 
ing  areoles;  petals  orange-yellow,  1  to  1.3  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Cuba,  in  maritime  depressions. 

Distribution:  Southern  coast  of  eastern  Cuba  and  adjacent  plains. 


204 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Specimens  of  the  plant  were  erri)neously  referred  by  Cirisebacli  to  (>.  ti'hn\i)ithd.  It  is  a 
picturesque  feature  of  the  flora  of  its  native  habitat. 

Figure  256  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  on  the  United  States  Naval  Station,  Guan- 
tanamo  Bay,  Cuba,  taken  by  Marshall  A.  Howe  in  1909;  figure  257  is  from  a  photograph 
of  a  plant  from  the  same  place,  grown  at  the  New  ^'ork  Botanical  Garden. 


232.  Opuntia  spinosissima  Miller,  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  8.    1768. 

Cactus  spinuiiishnm  Martyn,  Cit.  Hort.  Cant.  88.  1771. 
Con.iolea  spinosisshmi  Lemaire,  Rev,  Hort.  1862:  174.  1862. 
Erect,  Up  to  5  m.  high,  the  trunk  sometimes  8  cm.  in  diameter,  densely  clothed  with  .ireoles  bear- 
ing many  long  brownish  glochids  and  acicular,  deflsxed  or  spreading  spines  up  to  8  cm.  long;  ultimate 
branches  flat,  dull  green,  narrowly  oblong,  2  to  4  times  as  long  as  wide,  their  areoles  1  to  1.5  cm.  apart, 
slightly  or  not  at  all  elevated,  bearing  brown  glochids  and  1  to  3  acicular,  straw-colored  or  whitish 
spines  8  cm.  long  or  less,  or  spineless;  ovary  3  to  8  cm.  long,  often  flattened,  its  areoles  bearing  short 
glochids;  petals  about  1  cm.  long,  oblong-obovate,  rounded  at  the  ape.x,  at  first  yellow,  turning  dull  red. 

Type  locality:  Jamaica. 

Distiibutiu)!:  Southern  coast  of  Jamaica. 

Plate  XXXVI.  from  a  painting  by  Miss  H.  A.  Wood  at  Hope  Gardens,  Jamaica,  sent  by 
William  Harris  in  1907.  Figure  258  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  obtained  by  Professor 
John  F.  Cowell  in  Jamaica  and  sent  from  the  Buffalo  Botanical  Garden  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  in  1904. 

A  species  of  this  series,  Spiiiosissiuiue,  occurs  on  Navassa  Island  off  the  southeastern 
point  of  Haiti;  specimens  were  sent  us  by  Mr.  F.  P.  Dillan,  Superintendent  of  Light  Houses, 
San  Juan,  Porto  Rico,  but  they  are  not  cornplete  enough  to  be  specifically  referred. 

233.  Opuntia  millspaughii  Britton,  Smiths.   Misc.  Coll.  50:  513.    1908. 

Trunk  terete,  7  cm.  thick  at  base,  5  cm.  thick  at  top,  6  dm.  high  or  less,  branching  at  the  summit, 
the  branches  divaricate-ascending,  narrowly  oblong,  much  compressed,  40  cm.  long  or  less,  5  to  10  cm. 


BRITTON    AND    ROSE 


UpiDithi  spniusissniu 


1.     Flowering  joint. 
2,   3.     Single  flowers. 
4,   5.     Longitudinal  section  of  flowc 


Cross-section  of  ov.iry. 
Style. 


OPUNTIA. 


20J 


wide,  1  to  1.5  cm.  thick,  light  green;  branchlets  obliquely  lanceolate,  obtuse,  as  wide  as  the  branches, 
but  shorter,  1  cm.  thick  or  less,  floriferous  at  and  near  the  apex;  areoles  of  the  older  branches  pitted, 
about  1  cm.  apart,  those  of  very  young  shoots  slightly  elevated,  the  glochids  very  short,  yellowish  brown ; 
spines  of  the  trunk  15  cm.  long  or  less,  very  numerous  and  densely  clothing  the  trunk,  very  slender, 
gray,  mostly  strongly  reflexed,  pungent,  those  of  the  branches  and  branchlets  restricted  to  the  areoles  on 
their  edges,  shorter  than  those  of  the  trunk  but  similar,  purple  when  young,  those  of  the  fruit  yellowish 


gray,  2  cm.  long  or  less;  flowers  cupulatc,  crimson-lake,  1  cm.  wide  scpils  flesh)  ovate,  acute,  4  mm. 
long  and  wide;  petals  erect-ascending,  obovate  mucronulate,  about  -J  mm  wide,  stamens  half  as  long  as 
the  corolla;  style  about  as  long  as  the  corolla;  stigma-lobes  oblong,  yellowish  crimson;  fruit  compressed- 
obovoid,  2  cm.  long,  1.5  cm.  thick,  bearing  one  or  two  spines  at  most  of  the  areoles. 

Type  locality:  Rock  IslancJ,  Eleuthera  Island,  Bahamas. 

DistribtHion:  Eleuthera  and  Great  Ragged  Island,  Bahamas;  Cayo  Paredon  Grande,  Cuba. 


206 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Figure  259  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  phint  taken  at  the  type  locahty  by  Dr.  C. 
F.  Millspaugh,  February  22,  190^. 

234.  Opuntia  moniliformis   (Linnaeus)   Haw^rth  in  Steudel,  Nom.  ed.  2.  2:  221.    1841. 
Cactus  monilijormh  Linnaeus,  Sp.  PI.  468.    1753. 
Cactus  jerox  Willdenow,  Enum.  PI.  Suppl.  35.    1813. 
Opuntia  jerox  Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  82.    1819. 
Cereus  moniliformis  De  Candolle,  Prodr.  3:  470.    1828. 
Consolea  ferox  Lemaire,  Rev.  Hort.   1862:   174.     1862. 
Opuntia    microcarpa    Schumann,    Gesamtb.    Kakteen    ^14. 

1898.    Not  Engelniann.    1848. 
Cactus  reticulatus  Index  Kewensis   I:   369.     1893.* 
Opuntia   reticulata   Karsten,   Deutsche   Fl.    ed.    2.    2:    45". 

1895. 
Nopalea    moniliformis    Schumann,    Gesamtb.    Kakteen    ^50. 

1898. 
Opuntia    testudinis-crus    Weber    in    Gosselin,    Bull.    Mus. 

Hist.  Nat.  Paris   10:   389.     1904. 
Opuntia    haitiensis    Britton,    Smiths.    Misc.    Coll.    SO;    513. 


Trunk  somewhat  flattened  above,  3  to  4  m.  high,  branch- 
ing at  the  top,  densely  armed  with  acicuhir,  yellowish  or  gray 
spines  12  cm.  long  or  less,  their  bases  clothed  with  yellowish- 
white  wool  1  to  2  cm.  long;  joints  obliquely  linear-oblong  to 
obovate,  1  to  3  dm.  long,  13  cm.  wide  or  less,  about  1  cm.  thick, 
obtuse,  distinctly  areolate-reticulate,  the  areoles  somewhat  ele- 
vated, 1  to  1.5  cm.  apart,  those  of  young  joints  bearing  near 
the  edges  3  to  6  acicular  spines  1  to  2.5  cm.  long,  those  on 
the  sides  of  the  young  joints  often  spineless  or  with   1   to   3 


Opunl..i   m.llsp.iu« 


The    Index    Kewtn>ii 


in  the  plain  at  Azua,  Santo  D 

!    (FI.    Med,    Antill.    I:   rl.    68),    Inn 


(^PUNTIA. 


207 


yellowish  spines,  and  with  small  tufts  of  grayish  wool ;  older  joints  bearing  at  all  areoles  5  to  8  yellow- 
ish spines  similar  to  those  of  the  trunk,  and  brown  glochids  6  or  8  mm.  long;  flowers  about  2.5  cm. 
broad;  sepals  as  broad  as  long,  or  broader,  apiculate;  petals  yellow  to  orange,  ovate,  apiculate,  spread- 
ing; stamens  much  shorter  than  the  petals;  ovary  cylindric  to  obovoid-cylindric,  terete  or  nearly  so,  4  to 
5  cm.  long,  its  distinctly  elevated  areoles  close  together,  only  5  or  6  mm.  apart,  bearing  brown  glochids 
2  mm.  long,  but  no  spines;  fruit  oblong-obovoid,  about  6  cm.  long. 

Type  locality:  Hispaniola. 

Distribution:  Hispaniola;  Desecheo  Island,  Porto  Rico. 

The  ovaries,  fruits  and  small  joints  of  this  species  are  readily  detached  and  on  falling 
to  the  ground  strike  root  and  proliferate,  forming  masses  of  subglobose  or  turgid  joints 
entirely  different  in  aspect  from  the  fully  developed,  tree-like  plant.  It  was  on  this  stage  of 
the  organism  that  the  Cactus  viomlijonnis  of  Linnaeus,  founded  on  Plumier's  conventional- 
ized plate  above  cited,  was  based;  this  illustration  is,  however,  apparently  erroneous  in  show- 
ing the  style  as  long-exserted. 

The  names  Opuiitia  dolabrijorniis  and  Opuiitia  cvuciata  were  published  by  Pfeiffer 
(Enum.  Cact.  167.  1837)  as  synonyms  of  O.  ferox.  Some  of  the  joints  and,  perhaps,  some 
whole  plants  of  this  species  are  nearly  or  quite  spineless. 

Illustrations:  Descourtilz,  Fl.  Med.  AntiU.  ed.  2.  7:  pi.  514,  as  Cactier  moniliforme; 
Plumier,  PI.  Amer.  ed.  Burmann.  pi.  198,  as  Cactus,  etc. 


Fig.   :rtl.— Opuntui   momlifomiis.    The  s.um-  specjes   .is   260,   hu 
showing  a  different  mode  of  growth. 


Fig.   262.— Opuntia   monili- 
formis.   xO.66. 


Figure  260  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  plant  at  Azua,  Santo  Domingo,  taken  by  Paul 
G.  Russell  in  1913;  figure  261  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Frank  E.  Lutz  on  Desecheo 
Island,  Mona  Passage,  Porto  Rico,  in  1914,  showing  a  mass  of  proliferating  sterile  ovaries 
or  small  joints  below  and  the  mature  stage  of  tiie  plant  above;  figure  262  represents  several 
of  the  small  joints  of  the  Desecheo  plant. 


208 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


235.  Opuntia  rubescens  Salm-Dyck  in  De  CandoUe,  Prodr.  3:  -i7l.    1828. 

Opiintia  calacanlba  Link  and  Otto  in  PfeifFer,   Enum.  Cact.   166.     1S37. 

Consolea  rubescens  Lemaire,  Rev.   Hort.    1862:    174.    1862. 

Consolea  catacanlha  Lemaire,  Rev.   Hort.    1862:     174.    1862. 

Optinlht  guanicana  Schumann  in  Giirke,  Mona  sschr.  Kakteenk.  18:  180.  1908. 
Trunk  erect,  nearly  cylintlric  below,  flattened  above,  3  to  6  meters  high,  sometimes  1.3  dm.  in 
diameter,  branching  above,  its  areoles  bearing  several  of  many  acicular  spines  up  to  8  cm.  long  or 
more,  or  spineless:  ultimate  joints  thin  and  flat,  mostly  dark  green  or  reddish  green,  not  reticulate- 
areolate  except  when  young,  oblong  to  oblong-obovate,  2.5  dm.  long  or  less,  mostly  2  to  4  times  as 
long  as  wide,  the  terminal  ones  often  much  smaller;  areoles  1  to  1.5  cm.  apart,  bearing  several  acicular 
nearly  white  spines  1  to  6  cm.  long,  or  spineless;  flowers  yellow,  orange  or  red,  about  2  cm.  broad; 
ovary  long-tuberculate,  4.  to  5  cm.  long,  about  1.5  cm.  in  diameter;  petals  obovate,  apiculate;  stamens 
about  half  as  long  as  the  petals;  fruit  reddish,  obovoid  or  subgiobose.  5  to  8  cm.  in  diameter,  spiny  or 
spineless;  seeds  suborbicular,   6  to  8   mm.   in  diameter. 


Type  locality:  Cited  as  Brazil,  but  erroneously. 

Distribution:  Mona  and  Porto  Rico  to  Tortola,  St.  Croix,  and  Guadeloupe. 

Culebra,  St.  Thomas,  St.  Jan,  and  Montserrat  plants  agree  with  the  description  of  Opuiilia 
rubescens,  which  clearly  belongs  with  the  Spinosissiniae  (Crucifoni/es),  as  pointed  out  by 
Berger,  rather  than  with  the  South  American  series  hiarniatde,  where  it  was  placed  by  Schu- 
mann; it  is  a  spineless  state  of  0.  catacantha,  as  was  conclusively  proven  by  us  through  field 
observations  in  the  Virgin  Islands,  and  greenhouse  plants  of  O.  rubescens  develop  spines. 

Both  the  spiny  and  spineless  races  exhibit  remarkable  proliferation  of  the  ovaries,  these 
often  forming  chains  of  several  joints  while  attached  to  the  plant;  these,  falling  to  the  ground, 
strike  root  and  form  many  small,  flattened  joints  2  to  i  cm.  long,  as  in  Opuntia  nionilijnrwis, 
to  which  this  species  is  otherwise  closely  related. 

Illustration:  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Card.  7:  f.  6,  as  Opuntia:  Carnegie  hist.  Wash.  269:  pi. 
10,  f.  90.  91,  as  Opuntia  catacantha. 


209 


Figure  263  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  taken  by  Professor  John  F.  Cowell  at 
Guanica,  Porto  Rico,  in  1915;  figure  264  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Professor  Cowell  at 
the  same  time  and  place,  showing  in  the  foreground  a  mass  of  young  plants  arisen  from 
proliferating  joints,  and  a  mature  plant  behind;  figure  265  represents  proliferating  joints  of 
a  plant  grown  at  Nisky,  St.  Thomas,  collected  by  Dr.  Britton  and  Dr.  Rose  in  1913;  figure 
266  represents  a  fruit,  collected  by  Dr.  Britton  and  Dr.  Shafer  on  Buck  Island,  St.  Thomas, 
in  1913. 


Figs.   265,   266.— Opuntia   rubcscens.   xO.66.  Fig.   267.— Opuntia   bi.i.siliensi>.    x().75. 

Series  27.  BRASILIENSES. 
This  series  represents  one  of  the  five  subgenera  described  by  Dr.  Schumann,  which  he  called 
BrasiUopiintia.  It  perhaps  should  be  recognized  as  a  distinct  genus.  We  recognize  three  species  in  the 
series,  which  may  be  races  of  a  single  one,  characterized  by  an  erect  cylindric  trunk  with  cylindric, 
horizontal  branches  terminating  in  a  series  of  flattened,  thin,  leafdike  branches.  The  leaves  are  small 
and  caducous.  The  spines  are  few  on  the  young  growth,  but  large  clusters  are  developed  on  the  old 
stem  and  trunk.  The  flowers  are  small,  the  fruit  is  juicy,  and  the  seeds  are  large  and  covered  with  a 
dense  mass  of  wool.  Unlike  most  species  of  Op/intij,  these  grow  in  the  moist  tropical  forests,  forming 
tall,  slender,  treedike  plants. 

Key  to  Species. 

Fruit    gluhul.u',    yellow 236.  O.  />ij\/lu-niii 

Fiuit  clavate  to  oblong,  red. 

Fruit  oblong,  3  to  4  cm.  long 237.  O.  bahierisii 

Fruit  clavate,  5  cm.  long 238.  O.  argenlina 

236.  Opuntia  brasiliensis  (Willdenow)  Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  79.    1819. 

Cactiii   bijs/liensis  Willdenow,   Enum,   PI.   Suppl.   33.     1813. 
Cac/m   paradoxus   Hornemann,   Hort.   Hafn.   2:   443.    1815. 
Ciiclus  .irboreus  Vellozo,   Fl.   Flum.   207.    1825. 
Opunt'hi  arborea  Steudel,  Nom.   ed.   2.   2:   220.    1841. 
Cereui  paradoxus  Steudel,  Nom.  ed.  2.  1:  335.    1841. 
Becoming  4  meters  high,  with  a  cylindric  woody  trunk  and  a  small  rounded  top;  old  trunk  either 
naked  or  spiny;   branches  dimorphic,   the   lateral   ones  horizontal,   terete;   the  terminal   joints  flat  and 
leafdike,  many  of  these  in  time  dropping  off;  flowers  5  to  5.5  cm.  long;  petals  yellow,  oblong,  obtuse; 
filaments  very  short;  fruit  yellow,  globular,  3  to  4  cm.  in  diameter,  with  a  low  or  nearly  truncate  um- 
bilicus, bearing  large  areoles;  seed  usually  one,  very  woolly,  10  mm.  broad. 
Type  locality:  Near  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 

Dislnliiilidii:  Southern  Brazil,  Paraguay,  Peru,  Argentina,  and  central  Bolivia.    Natiu'al- 
ized  in  southern  Florida. 

Dr.  Small  has  found  tiiis  plant  established  after  planting  on  shell  mounds  and  waste 
places  in  southern  Florida. 


210 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


A  nuinbei-  of  varieties  of  this  species  appear  in  literature,  of  which  we  may  mention 
the  following:  minor  Pfeiffer  (Enum.  Cact.  169.  1837);  schomburgkii  Salm-Dyck  (Cact. 
Hort.  Dyck.  1849.  74.  1850);  sphwiior  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  184.  1834);  tenuifolht 
Forbes  (Hort.  Tour  Germ.  159.  1837);  and  teiiiiinr  Salm-Dyck  (Hort.  Dyck.  376.  1834). 

Op/riitid  bnis/Uefisis  gnid/iorS'd\m-Dyckv,'dS  given  by  Forster  (Handb.  Cact.  500.  1846) 
as  a  synonym  of  0.  bnisz/ieiisis  minor. 

Dr.  John  H.  Barnhart  recently  called  our  attention  to  a  number  of  cactus  names  pub- 
lished by  St.  Hilaire  which  have  been  overlooked  by  later  writers.  One  of  these,  Cactus 
hctc'r(jcliic1us  St.  Hilaire  (Voy.  Rio  de  Janeiro  and  Minas  Geraes  2:  103.  1830)  seems  to  be- 
long here,  as  tiie  following  free  translation  would  indicate: 

"Another   cactus,   which    I    have   already   seen    near   Rio   de 

Janeiro,  raised  its  branches  in  the  midst  of  tortuous  lianas;  its 
trunk,  which  grows  more  slender  from  the  base  to  the  summit,  is 
covered  with  fa.scicles  of  spines  arranged  in  a  quincunx,  and  it 
shows  various  stages  of  verticillate,  horizontal,  rounded  branches, 
to  the  number  of  seven  in  each  whorl;  these  branches,  like  those 
of  the  spruce  tree,  grow  shorter  toward  the  summit  of  the  plant, 
and  they  bear  secondary  branches,  flattened  and  oval-oblong, 
wliicli  may  in  a  certain  sense  be  taken  as  leaves." 

lllustrdtions:  Curtis's  Bot.  Mag.  61:  pi.  3293;  Dept. 
Agr.  N.  S.  W.  Misc.  Publ.  253:  pi.  [6];  Martius,  Fl.  Bras. 
4-:  pi.  61;  Pfeiffer  and  Otto,  Abbild.  Beschr.  Cact.  1:  pi. 
29;  Schumann,  Gesamtb.  Kakteen  f.  100;  Vellozo,  Fl. 
Flum.  5:  pi.  28,  this  last  as  Cactus  arhoreus:  Goebel,  Pflanz. 
Schild.  1:  f.  37,  38. 

Plate  XXX,  figure  2,  represents  a  flowering  joint  taken 
from  a  specimen  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden;  fig- 


li.^:fi 


Fig.  268.— Opuntia  brasiliensis.  Figs.  269,  270.— Opunti.i  balm-nsis.    xO.5. 

ure  3  is  from  the  same  plant,  showing  terete  and  flat  joints.  Figure  267  represents  a  fruit 
collected  by  Dr.  Rose  near  Iguaba  Grande,  Brazil,  in  1915;  figure  268  is  from  a  photograph 
taken  by  Paul  G.  Russell  in  a  public  park  in  Bahia,  Brazil. 

237.  Opuntia  bahiensis  sp.  nov. 

Trunk  3  to  15  meters  high,  cylindric,  20  to  25  cm.  in  diameter,  tapering  gradually  upward;  the 
center  of  trunk  pithy,  hollow  in  age,  surrounded  by  an  open  woody  cylinder;  lateral  joints  terete,  the 
terminal  ones  flat  and  thin,  ovate  to  oblong;  leaves  small,  2  to  3  mm.  long,  turgid;  spines  on  terminal 
joints,  if  present,  1  or  2,  slender,  red  at  first,  then  brown ;  spines  on  old  trunk  forming  large  clusters  at 
all  the  areoles;  flowers  not  seen;  fruit  deep  red  both  within  and  without,  oblong,  3  to  4  cm.  long;  its 
small  areoles  with  brown  glochids;  seeds  1  to  =i,  mostly  1  or  2  in  each  fruit,  very  hairy,  thick,  8  mm.  broad. 

Collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Toca  da  Onca,  Bahia,  Brazil,  by  Rose  and  Russell,  June  27  to 
29,  1915   (No.  20068). 


211 


Figure  269  represents  joints  of  the  type  plant  above  cited;  figure  270  represents  a  joint 
with  fruit;  figure  271  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  specimen. 


Fig.    271.— Opuntia    b-iliRiiMs.     Tlic    tret-    t..    the    left    .iml  Fic.   272.— Opuntui  iimmophi 

.somcwliat   in   the   f(irei;niiind. 

238.  Opuntia  argentina  Grisebach,  Abh.  Ges.  Wiss.  Gottingen  24:  140.    1879. 

Opuntid  hieronymi  Grisebach,  Abh.  Ges.  Wiss.  Giktingen  2-4:   l-iO.    1879. 

Erect,  5  to  15  meters  high,  branching  at  the  top,  the  lateral  branches  subverticillate,  teretes  ter- 
minal branches  flat,  5  to  12  cm.  long,  3  to  8  cm.  broad;  ovary  1  to  2.5  cm.  long;  petals  elliptic  to 
spatulate,  1.8  cm.  long,  8  mm.  broad,  greenish  yellow;  filaments  white;  style  white;  stigma4obe;  yel- 
lowish green;  ovary  flattened,  tuberculate,  deeply  umbilicate;  fruit  clavate,  5  cm.  long,  dull  purplish 
violet,  with  wine-colored  pulp;   seeds  lens-shaped,   5  to  6  mm.  long,  2.5  to  3  mm.  broad. 

Type  locality.  Near  San  Andres,  Oran,  Argentina. 

Distribution:  Northern  Argentina. 

This  species  was  considered  identical  with  O.  brasiliensii 
by  Schumann,  but  they  separate  on  very  good  fruit  characters. 

Figure  274  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  flowering  branch 
furnished  by  Dr.  C.  Spegazzini. 

Series  28.  AMMOPHILAE. 

Erect  species,  sometimes  with  a  definite  continuous  trunk,  often  much 
branched,  the  joints  broad  and  flat,  spiny  or  unarmed,  the  spines  (when  present) 
subulate  or  subulatae-acicular,  whitish,  gray  or  reddish,  the  large  flowers  yellow. 

The  series  now  appears  to  be  most  nearly  related  to  the  Series  Torthpinae 
(vol.  1:  126)  and  may  be  placed  to  follow  it  as  series  7a.  Opuntia  amtrina 
Small,  of  southern  Florida,  may  be  transferred  from  the  Torlispinae  to  the 
Ammophilae, 

One  peculiar  species,  native  of  Florida,  constitutes  this 
series,  characterized  by  a  continuous  erect  subterete  trunk,  flat, 
spiny  branches,  and  large,  yellow  flowers. 

239.  Opuntia  ammophila  Small,  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  20: 
29.     1919. 

Plant  erect,  more  or  less  branched  throughout  or  ultimately 
with  a  stem  1  to  2  meters  tall  or  more,  becoming  2  to  2.5   dm.  in  Fig.  273.— Opuntia  ammophila. 


212 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


diameter,  bearing  several  spreading  branches  near  the  top,  thus  tree-hke,  tuberous  at  the  base;  joints 
various,  those  of  the  main  stem  elongate,  ultimately  fused  on  the  ends  and  subcylindric,  those  of  tiie 
branches  typically  obovate  or  cuneate,  varying  to  elliptic  or  oval,  thickish,  5  to  17  cm.  long,  becoming 
grayish  green;  leaves  stout-subulate,  6  to  10  mm.  long,  green;  areoles  relatively  numerous,  conspicuous 
on  account  of  the  densely  crowded  long  bristles,  especially  on  the  older  joints,  the  marginal  ones,  at 
least,  armed;  spines  very  slender,  solitary  or  2  together,  reddish  or  red,  at  maturity  gray,  mostly  2  to 
6  cm.  long,  nearly  terete,  scarcely  spirally  twisted;  flowers  several  on  a  joint;  sepals  lanceolate,  acute 
or  slightly  acuminate;  buds  sharply  pointed;  corolla  bright  yellow,  5  to  8  cm.  wide;  petals  obovate, 
cuneate,  notched,  and  prominently  apiculate,  3  cm.  long,  scarcely  erose;  stigma-lobes  cream-color;  ber- 
ries obovoid,  2  to  3  cm.  long,  more  or  less  flushed  with  reddish  purple,  many-seeded;  seeds  about  4 
mm.   in  diameter. 


Fig.  275. — Opuntia  cliafFeyi.    Photograph 
by  Senor  Don  Teodoro  Chairez. 


Type  locality:  Fort  Pierce,  Florida. 

Distribution:  Inlancl  sand-dunes  (scrub),  peninsular  Florida. 

The  plant  was  first  collected  by  Dr.  Small  near  Fort  Pierce,  Florida,  in  1917,  and  again 
studied  by  him  in  its  more  northern  range  west  of  St.  George  in   1918.    He  describes  it  as 


OPUNTIA.  212a 

the  most  conspicuous  native  prickly  pear  of  Florida,  always  viciously  armed  and  with  a  char- 
acteristically unjointed  trunk.   In  spite  of  its  many  slender  spines,  cattle  browse  upon  it. 

More  recent  collections  of  this  plant  by  Dr.  Small,  show  that  its  range  extends  south  to  Cape  Romano,  Florida, 
and  that  the  definite  trunk,  at  first  taken  as  characteristic  of  it,  is  not  always  developed;  his  living  plants  from 
different  stations  show  slight  individual  differences  which  do  not  appear  to  be  specific.  This  species  has  been 
erroneously    referred    by    Dr.    Gritfiths    (Bull.    Torr.    Club    46:    201)    to   Opiinli.i  kiih.imii  Rafinesque. 

Illustration:  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Card.  20:  pi.  224. 

Figure  272  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  taken  by  Dr.  Small  near  Fort  Pierce, 
Florida;  figure  273  shows  a  fruiting  joint  of  the  type  specimen. 

239a.  Opuntia  turgida  Small,  sp.  nov. 

Plant  erect,  more  or  less  diffusely  branched,  0.5  meter  tall  or  less,  with  fibrous  roots;  joints  elliptic 
to  elliptic-obovate,  5  to  12  cm.  long,  thickish,  deep  green,  sometimes  slightly  glaucous  when  young; 
leaves  subulate,  6  to  10  mm.  long,  spreading  and  more  or  less  recurved,  green,  sometimes  accompanied 
by  fine  bristles,  but  without  spines;  areoles  scattered,  often  prominent  and  densely  bristly  on  the  older 
joints;  spines  (as  far  as  known)  wanting;  flowers  often  several  on  a  joint;  ovary  obovoid  or  obconic- 
obovoid,  2  to  2.5  cm.  long,  acute,  the  inner  rhombic-ovate,  fully  1.5  cm.  long,  stout-pointed;  corolla 
bright  yellow,  5.5  to  6.5  cm.  wide;  petals  10  to  12,  about  3  cm.  long,  broadly  cuneate,  abruptly  nar- 
rowed, rounded  or  subtruncate  at  the  ape.x,  mucronate;  anthers,  2  mm.  long;  berry  obovoid,  2  to  2.5  cm. 
long,  greenish  purple,  even,  broadly  rounded  at  the  base,  the  umbilicus  flat  or  a  little  depressed  at  the 
middle;  seeds  rather  numerous,  about  4  mm.  in  diameter,  somewhat  turgid. 

Hammocks  near  Yulee  and  on  the  mainland  along  the  Halifax  River  south  of  Daytona, 
Florida.  Type  collected  about  five  miles  south  of  Daytona,  in  December  1919,  by  J.  K. 
Small,  preserved  in  the  herbarium  of  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden. 

This  spineless,  small-jointed  species  is  tentatively  referred  to  the  Series  AiiiDiophihie  on 
account  of  its  fruit  characters  and  erect  habit.  A  plant  sent  from  Kew  to  the  New  York 
Botanical  Garden  in  1902,  under  an  unpublished  name,  very  closely  resembles  this  species. 

Opuut'id  uapoh'd,  offered  for  sale  by  Griissner  (JVIonatsschr.  Kakteenk.  February  1920) 
we  have  not  seen. 

The  name  Opuntia  sp'irocentra  Engelmann  and  Bigelow  (Haage,  Verz.  Cact.  30),  found 
in  the  Index  Kewensis,  we  have  not  been  able  to  verify.  As  the  name  is  credited  to  Engel- 
mann and  Bigelow  and  the  habitat  of  the  plant  is  said  to  be  New  Mexico  it  is  doubtless  an 
error  and  probably  was  intended  for  0.  inacroceutva. 

Opuntia  todari  (Haage  and  Schmidt,  Haupt-Verz.  230.  1912)  is  known  only  in  the  trade. 

Cactus  italicus  referred  by  the  Index  Kewensis  to  Tenore  (Steudel,  Nom.  ed.  2.  2:  246. 
1840)    occurs  first  in   1831    (Tenore,  Syll.   PI.   Neop.   241)    where   also   occurs   the  name 
Opuntia  italica.   Both  are  unpublished  but  doubtless  refer  to  some  species  of  Opuntia. 
Cactus  parvifolius  Ehrenberg  in  F.  G.  Dietrich,  Vollst.  Lex.  Gaertin.  2:  4l6.    1802. 

An  upright,  cylindrical,  almost  articulate  stem;  the  upper  part  bedecked  with  small,  cylindrical, 
fleshy,  pointed  leaves;  on  lower  part  of  the  stem,  at  the  place  where  the  leaves  are  attached,  stiff  bristles 
are  formed  which  are  surrounded  at  the  base  by  a  whitish-gray,  woolly  substance;  in  old  age  the  stem 
requires  a  support  on  account  of  its  slender  growth ;  if  the  stem  is  cut  through  in  the  middle  and  the 
wound  well  dried,  young  sprouts  make  their  appearance  at  this  place  which  serve  to  propagate  the  plant. 
South  America  is  its  home. 

The  above  paragraph  is  a  free  translation  of  the  description. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  identify  this  plant,  but  it  is  probably  some  species  of  Opuntia 
or  possibly  Tacinga  funalis. 

Cereus  vulnerator  Cortes  (Fl.  Colombia  69.  1897)  and  C.  guasabara  Cortes  (Fl.  Colom- 
bia 208.  1897)  are  different  names  for  the  same  plant.  From  the  brief  descriptions  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  identify  this  plant  but  it  certainly  is  not  a  Cereus.  It  suggests  some  sheathed-spined 
Opuntia  such  as  O.  tunicata  which  has  been  introduced  into  South  America  and  is  common 
in  northern  Ecuador.   It  is  known  as  curuntiUa  or  guasabara  in  Colombia. 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


213 


Series  29.  CHAFFEYANAE. 

The  series  contains  a  single  Mexican  species,  differing  from  all  the  other  opuntias  in  having  an 
annual  stem  which  arises  from  a  large,  fleshy  root  or  rootstock.  The  joints,  which  are  elongated  and 
nearly  terete,  resemble  somewhat  those  of  O.  leptoi\i/il/s.  but  are  more  fleshy,  while  the  flowers  and  fruit 
are  like  those  of  the  platyopuntias. 

2-10.  Opuntia  chalifeyi  Britton  and  Rose,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  16:  241.    1913. 

Perennial  by  a  large,  fleshy,  deep-seated  root  or  rootstock  often  35  cm.  long  by  4  cm.  in  diameter; 
stems  normally  annual,  5  to  15  cm.  long,  sometimes  in  cultivated  specimens  23  cm.  long,  much  branched, 
often  weak  and  prostrate;  joints  elongated,  3  to  5  cm.  long,  6  to  7  mm.  broad,  slightly  flattened,  gla- 


,.^ 


Fig,   276.— Opunti 


brous,  pale  bluish  green  or  sometimes  purplish;  leaves  minute,  caducous;  areoles  small,  circular,  with 
white  wool  in  the  lower  parts  and  brown  wool  in  the  upper  parts;  spines  1,  rarely  2  or  3,  acicular,  2  to 
3  cm.  long,  whitish  or  pale  yellow;  glochids  numerous,  pale  yellow;  flower-buds,  including  ovary,  8  cm. 
long;  flower  opening  at  10  a.  m.,  closing  at  2  p.  m.,  6  cm.  broad;  sepals  few,  small,  ovate  to  oblong, 
greenish;  petals  few,  7  to  9,  pale  lemon-yellow,  but  slightly  pinkish  on  the  outside;  filaments  numerous, 
about  1  cm.  long;  style  slender,  extending  beyond  the  stamens,  about  22  mm.  long,  somewhat  swollen  at 
base;  ovary  deeply  umbilicate,  somewhat  club-shaped,  4  to  5  cm.  long,  bearing  flattened  tubercles  and 
large  areoles  filled  with  white  wool;  upper  areoles  on  ovary  bearing  also  white  bristly  spines;  ovules 
numerous,  borne  in  the  upper  third  of  the  ovary;  fruit  and  seeds  still  unknown. 

Type  Incdlity:  Hacienda  de  Cedros,  near  Mazapil.  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 
D'ntr'ibut'iou:  State  of  Zacatecas,  Mexico. 
Jllustvdtion:  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  16:  pi.  72. 


214  OPUNTIA. 

Figure  275  is  from  a  photograph  of  part  of  the  original  collection  as  grown  by  Dr.  E. 
Chaffey,  taken  and  contributed  by  Senor  Don  Teodoro  Chairez,  of  Ciudad  Lerdo,  Mexico; 
figure  276  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  showing  the  large  root  and  the  young  shoot. 

As  stated  in  the  original  description,  this  is  a  remarkable  Opantia.  being  the  only  one 
known  which  has  an  annual  stem.  In  cultivation,  where  the  plant  is  grown  under  abnor- 
mal conditions,  the  stem  persists  for  more  than  a  year;  but  Dr.  Chaifey  assures  us  that  in  the 
desert,  where  the  species  grows  naturally,  the  stem  dies  down  to  the  ground  in  the  dry 
season.  We  have  had  it  in  cultivation  since  1910,  but  it  does  not  do  well,  and  is  gradually 
dying  out.  It  has  not  been  found  in  flower  in  a  wild  state,  but  it  flowered  with  Dr.  Chaffey 
at  Ciudad  Lerdo,  Durango,  Mexico,  in  1915.  Dr.  Chaffey,  who  has  been  studying  this  spe- 
cies for  several  years,  has  made  a  number  of  interesting  observations;  he  states  that  the 
large  base,  which  usually  is  found  15  to  20  cm.  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground,  when 
allowed  to  grow  above  the  ground  develops  clusters  of  spines  like  those  on  the  normal 
stems,  and  finds  that  the  plant  is  easily  started  from  cuttings  which  soon  develop  the 
normal,  large,  underground  part.  He  further  states  that  the  desert  turtle  eats  this  plant.  It 
is  well  known  that  the  Galapagos  turtles  feed  upon  the  native  opuntias  of  those  islands. 

The  native  name  of  this  plant  is  sacacil. 

The  following  described  Opuntias  we  have  been  unable  to  refer  to  any  of  the  species 
otherwise  mentioned  in  this  work: 

Opuntia  bicolor  Philippi,  Linnaea   33:   83.   1864. 

glaucophylla   Wendland,   Cat.   Hort.   Herrenh.    1835. 

laevior   Salm-Dyck,   Cact.    Hort.    Dyck.  1844.  A6.    1845. 
longigloch'ia  C.  Z.  Ncls.in,   Galesburg  Register.    July  20,   1915. 

lucida  Hortu-.  W; Illiisri.  Gartenz.   14:   146.    1889. 

proslr.i!.:    il'n:  ^  <.   Gesamtb.  Kakteen  723.    1898. 

spmaiiicj    K.ii«!:    L  -   In  Dyck,    Cact.    Hort.    Dyck.    1844.    46.     1845.     As    synonym    for    O. 

p^cuJ.,:u.:i    ,,    r    r:    s.ilm-Dyck. 
tubercuLita  Haworth,  Suppl.  PI.  Succ.  80.    1819,  first  described  as  Or/// j- /«if)r;//.r//M  (Enum.  Hort. 

Berol.  Suppl.  34.  1813). 

The  following  names  of  Opuntia  are  chiefly  found  in  catalogues  or  in  lists,  or  have  been 
so  briefly  described  that  we  have  not  been  able  to  identify  them,  and  it  does  not  seem  worth 
while  even  to  cite  the  places  where  they  first  occur  in  literature: 

Opuntia  alpkolo  Schumann  Opunlhi  misiotiriensis  elongala  Salm-Dyck 

'  Forbes  erythrostemma  Haage  and  Schmidt 


attulica  Forbes  salmonea  Haage  and  Schmidt 

barhata  K.  Brandegee  montana  Sencke 

barbata  gracillima  K.  Brandegee  morenoi  Schumann 

bernhardmii  Hildmann  myriacaniha  Link  and  Otto.    Not  Weber 

betancourt  Murillo  ononis  Salm-Dyck 

calacantha  pachyarlhra  flaia  Haage  and  Schmidt 

calacaniha  rubra  pcichyclada  rosea  Haage  and  Schmidt 
Carolina  Forbes  spaethiana  Haage  and  Schmidt 

ciliosa  Forbes  parole  Forbes 

consoleana  Todaro  piccolomini  Hort. 

consolei  Haage  and  Schmidt  platyclada  Haworth 

demorenia  Forbes  praecox  Forbes 

demoriana  Forster  protracta  Lemaire 
deppei  Wendland  elongala  Salm-Dyck 

dicholoma  Forbes  pseudococcinellifer  Bertoloni 

eborina  Forster  pseudoluna  Salm-Dyck 
erecia  Schumann  elongala  Salm-Dyck 

jesliva  Sencke  spinosior  Salm-Dyck 

ficus-indica  albispina  Haage  and  Schmidt  piilverala  Forster 

flavispina  Forster  replans  Karwinsky 

hevernickii  Hildmann  salmii  Forbes 

hitchenii  Forbes  schomhurgkii  Salm-Dyck 

ilalica  Tenore  speciosa  Steudel 

joconoslle  Haage  and  Schmidt  spinuliflora  Salm-Dyck 

JHssieuii  Haage  spiniilosa  Salm-Dyck 

leucostata  Forbes  siraminea  Sencke 

macrophylla  Haage  and  Schmidt  stricia  spinulescens  Salm-Dyck 

subinerinis  Link 


OPUNTIA.  21 J 

Opuiitht  cLivata  Philippi  (Anal.  Univ.  Chile  41:  722.  1S72),  O.  oltoiiis  G.  Don  (Hist. 
Dichl.  Pi.  3:  172.  1834),  O.  phylhmthus  Miller  (Card.  Diet.  ed.  8,  No.  9.  1768),  O.  .uilicar- 
iiioules  Sprengel  (Pfeiffer,  Enum.  Cact.  141.  1837),  and  ().  spiuijlora  Philippi  (Linnaea 
30:   211.    1859)    are  of  the  triL^e  Cereeae. 

1.  GRUSONIA  F.  Reidienbach  in  Schumann,  JVIonatsschr.  Kakteenk.  6:   177.    1896. 
A  low,  imicli  branched  cactus,  the  branches  terete,   jointed,   and   ribbed;   areoles  borne  on   the  tops 
of  the  ribs,  very  spiny,  but  all  except  the  flowering  ones  without  glochids,  subtended  by  small  deciduous 
leaves;  corolla  rotate,  yellow;  fruit  baccate. 

This  was  first  described  as  a  Cevcus  from  specimens  collected  by  Mrs.  Anna  B.  Nickels 
in  1895,  then  as  a  new  genus  Griisoma,  and  lastly  as  an  Opiintia.  It  clearly  is  not  Cereus, 
but  when  growing  might  easily  be  mistaken  by  its  habit  for  Echiiiocereits.  The  leaves, 
glochids,  flowers,  and  fruit  are  those  of  Opinit'ui.  but  its  ribbed  stem  is  unlike  that  of  any 
known  species  of  that  genus. 

1.  Grusonia  bradtiana  (Coulter). 

Cereus  bi.idtijiiin  Gmlter,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  3:  -106.     1896   (Apiil). 

Grusonia  cereiformi^    F.   Reichenbacli   in   Schumann,  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  6:   177.     1896   (December). 

npuntia    bvadtuinj   K.    Brandegee,    Eiythea    5:    121.    1897. 

Opunlia  cereiformis  Weber,   Diet.   Hurt.   Bois.   897.    1898. 

Forming  dense,  often  impenetrable  thickets  2  meters  high  or  less,  very  spiny;  stems  light  green, 
-1  to  7  cm.  thick,  with  8  to  10  low,  longitudinal,  somewhat  tuberculate  ribs;  areoles  1  to  1.5  cm.  apart, 
3  to  5  mm.  in  diameter;  leaves  linear,  fleshy,  green,  8  mm.  long,  early  deciduous;  spines  15  to  25,  yel- 
lowish brown  when  young,  soon  becoming  white;  acicular,  terete  or  slightly  compressed,  1  to  3  cm. 
long,  not  sheathed,  some  of  the  longer  ones  reflexed;  wool  white,  turning  brown,  early  disappearing; 
corolla  rotate,  opening  in  bright  sunlight,  3  to  4  cm.  broad;  sepals  ovate,  acute,  fleshy,  petals  bright 
yellow,  spatulate,  fringed;  filaments  brownish  yellow;  stigmadobes  8,  yellow;  areoles  of  the  ovary  with 
long,  yellow,  weak  spines,  white  wool,  and  yellow  glochids;  berry  (according  to  Schumann)  ellipsoid, 
deeply  umbilicate;  seeds  not  seen. 

Type  locality:  Plains  of  Coahuila,  Mexico. 

Distyibntio!i:  Coahuila,  Mexico. 

This  species  first  appeared  in  print  in  the  catalogue  of  Johannes  Nicolai  under  the  name 
of  Giusoiiid  cereiforuiis.  but  we  are  informed  that  there  was  no  description  and  therefore  it 
was  not  technically  published.  The  same  name  next  appears  in  the  Monatsschrift  fiir 
Kakteenkunde  for  1894.  Here  Dr.  Schumann  wrote  a  long  article  about  the  name,  especially 
condemning  the  loose  manner  in  vogue  of  publishing  new  names  without  descriptions,  but 
giving  no  characters  of  the  plant,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  he  did  not  then  know  it.  Two 
months  later  this  name  again  appears  in  this  same  publication,  but  without  description. 
Two  years  later  Dr.  Schumann  records  seeing  this  plant  and  describes  it  briefly,  although  he 
does  not  approve  of  the  name  Gyiisnii'ia.  If  the  name  is  to  be  considered  published,  it  should 
not  date  earlier  than  this  (December  1896),  although  Dalla  Torre  and  Harms  accept  the 
date  of  1894.  In  1898  Weber  transferred  the  name  to  Opuntia,  publishing  it  as  Opuiitnt 
cen'ifor7)iis:  in  the  meantime  Coulter  (in  1896)  published  the  name  Cereus  bradtiaiiKS 
for  the  plant  and  Mrs.  Brandegee  (in  1897)  transferred  it  to  Opuntid.  calling  it  Opuntia 
bradtiana. 

llliislratidiis:  Monatsschr.  Kakteenk.  21:  121,  as  Opuntia  bradtiiuia:  Schumann,  Gesaintb. 
Kakteen  f.  101,  as  Opuntia  cereiforniis. 

Plate  xxxiii,  figure  4,  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant  ci)llected  by  C.  A.  Purpus  at  Cerro 
de  Cypriano,  near  Moiano,  Mexico,  in   1910. 


D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 
North  Carolina  State  CoOegc 


APPENDIX 


3a.  Nopalea  gaununi  sp.  nov.    (See  page  37,  iiiite.) 

About  3  meters  high,  much  branched;  joints  small,  linear-oblong  or  oblong-oblanceolate,  6  to  12 
cm.  long,  2  to  3  cm.  broad,  rather  thin;  areoles  sm.ill,  I  to  2  cm.  apart;  spines  very  unequal,  5  to  20 
mm.  long,  acicular,  -i  to  12,  yellowish  when  young;  Hower  small,  includir.g  ovary  and  stamens  about 
-4  cm.  long;  sepals  ovate,  acute;  petals  oblong,  12  mm.  long;  stamens  long-exserted ;  style  longer  than 
the  stamens;  stigma-lobes  6,  greenish;  fruit  red,  darker  within,  obovoid,  3  cm.  long,  its  numerous 
areoles  bearing  spines  and  yellow  glochids;  umbilicis  prominent,  1  cm.  deep;  seeds  about  i  mm.  broad, 
with  a  very  narrow  margin  and  a  very  thin  testa. 


8. — Nopalea  gaumeii 


Collected  by  George  F.  Gaumer  and  sons  near  Sisal,  Yucatan,  March  1916  (No.  23250, 
type);  also  by  Dr.  Gaumer  from  Port  Silam,  1895  (No.  647). 

Dr.  Gaumer's  field  note  is  as  follows:  "A  coastal  cactus,  10  feet  high,  much  branched, 
small-jointed  and  of  slight  build,  not  of  robust  build  like  the  interior  species.  It  blooms  from 
February  to  June.     The  birds  are  very  fond  of  the  fruit  and  consume  it  as  fast  as  it  ripens." 

Figures  277  and  278  show  joints  of  the  type-specimen, 

77a.  Opuntia  depauperata  sp.  nov.    (See  page  101, 

Plant  1  to  2  dm.  high,  with  a  flattened,  much  branched 
top;  joints  dark  green,  readily  detached,  terete  or  slightly 
flattened,  3  to  12  cm.  long,  2  to  3  cm.  thick,  puberulent; 
spines  on  young  joints  2  or  3,  on  old  joints  sometimes 
6  at  each  areole,  reddish  to  pale  brown,  acicular,  1  to  2.5 
cm.  long,  nearly  porrect;  glochids  tardily  developing,  con- 
spicuous on  old  joints,  yellow;  ovary  with  a  deep  um- 
bilicus. 

Collected  by  Dr.  and  Mrs.  J.  N.  Rose  north  of 
the  station  of  Zig  Zag,  along  the  railroad  above 
Caracas,  Venezuela,  October  17,  1916  (No.  21751). 

This  little  cactus  is  very  inconspicuous  and  only 
a  few  specimens  were  observed.  The  station  is  near 
the  top  of  the  mountains  which  separate  the  valley, 
in  which  Caracas  lies,  from  the  sea.  The  region 
here  is  not  so  dry  as  it  is  farther  down  on  the  sea- 
ward side  of  the  mountains,  but  there  are  several 
other  species  of  cacti  associated  with  it. 

Figure  2^9  is  from  a  photograph  of  type  plant 
taken  by  Mrs.  Rose;  figure  280  shows  a  joint.  i-,g.  279.— Opuntia  depauperata 


APPENDIX. 


217 


A  plant,  apparently  of  this  relationship,  was  collected  by  Dr.  H.  H.  Rusby  in  1917  on 
granite  rocks,  narrows  of  Magdalena  River,  Clolombia.  The  joints,  however,  are  glabrous, 
only  2  to  3  cm.  long,  the  young  joints  have  numerous  brown  spines  and  the  young 
produce  long  white  wool. 

82a.  Opuntia  pestifer  nom.  nov.    (See  page  103,  ante.) 

Cactus  iLuiin    Humboldt,   Bcinpl.ind,  .and  Kunth,  Nov.   Gen.  et   Sp.   6:   68.     1823. 
Cereiis  thviiis  De  Candolle,   Piodr.   3:   470.     1828. 

Low   and   nearly   pro.strate   but   .sometimes    2    dm.    high,    much   branched ;   the 
joints  very  fragile,   glabrous;   young  joints  2   to   5   cm.   long,   or  when  old   up   to 
8  cm.   long,   nearly  terete,    1   to   3  cm.   in   diameter,  or  when  young  flattened  and 
2   to   .1   cm.   bro.id,   very   spiny;   spines   2   to   5   at  each  areole,   acicular,   brownish,' 
1  to  3  cm.  long;  glochids  numerous,  yellow;  flowers  and  fruit  unknown. 

Type  lactility:  Near  Sondorello  and  Guancabamba.  In  Humboldt's  time 
these  places  were  in  southern  Ecuador,  but  they  are  now  in  northern  Peru. 

Dnty'ibiitioii:  Northern  Peru  to  central  Ecuador. 

Dr.  Rose  observed  the  plant  in  various  places  in  Ecuador,  usually  at 
an  altitude  ranging  from  1,000  to  1,500  meters.  The  following  collections 
were  made:  at  Huigra  (No.  22306);  at  Sibambe  (No.  22433);  and  west 
of  San  Pedro,  Province  of  Loja  (No.  23352). 

This  plant,  although  widely  distributed  and  very  common,  has  never    F'g.  280.— Opuntia 
been  seen  by  botanists  in  flower  or  fruit.     The  joints,  which  come  loose      epauperata.  xo. 
easily,  are  freely  distributed  by  animals.     It  is  so  small  that,  growing  half-hidden   in  the 
grass,  it  is  easily  overlooked  but  very  annoying  when  one  comes  upon  it  unawares.     Hum- 
boldt speaks  of  its  being  troublesome  to  men  and  dogs. 


Kunth  who  describes  it  as  Cactus  nanus  referred  it  with  hesistancy  to  the  Section  Cereus. 
De  Candolle  transferred  it  from  Cactus  to  Cereus  placing  it  in  a  new  subgenus  Opuiitiacei 
along  with  C.  viotiilifovniis  (which  we  know  now  is  an  Opuntia)  and  C.  serpens.  He  thought 
these  might  represent  a  genus  between  Opuntia  and  Cereus. 

Schumann  (Gesamtb.  Kakteen  166)  considered  it  an  Opuntia  but  did  not  formally 
refer  it  to  that  genus. 

This  name  should  not  be  confused  with  Opuntia  nana  (Fl.  Damatica  3:  1-13.  1852) 
which  is  Opu)itia  opuntia. 


218 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Figure  281  is  from  a  phottjgraph  taken  by  George  Rose  at  Sibambe,  I'cuador,  in   1918; 
figure  283  shows  the  joints  of  the  same  plant  (Rose,  No.  22-i33). 
96a.  Opuntia  discolor  sp.  nov.    (See  page  109,  ante.) 

A  low  plant,  forming  small  dense  clumps;  joints  slender,  i  to  12  cm.  long,  1.^  to  2.^  cm.  in 
diameter,  turgid,  glabrous,  dark  green  with  dark  purple  blotches  extending  downward  from  the  under 
margin  of  the  areoles;  spines  1  to  6,  acicular,  nearly  porrect,  somewhat  variegated  but  mostly  brown, 
3  cm.  long  or  less;  glochids  tardily  developing  but  conspicuous  on  old  branches,  dark  brown;  flowers 
light  yellow  to  orange-yellow,  only  3  cm.  long  including  the  ovary;  filaments  white;  style  and  stigma- 
lobes  nearly  white;  fruit  evidently  very  small,  bright  red. 


Fig.   282.— Opuntia  disoilor. 

This  species  is  represented  by  two  collections  made  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Shafer  in  1917  vvhicii 
slightly  differ  from  each  other.  They  are  No.  Ill,  from  sandy  thickets,  Santiago  del 
Estaro,  Argentina,  February  23  (type),  and  No. 
95,  from  gravelly  hills  near  Tapia,  Tucuman, 
February  9. 

Apparently  common  in  dry  sandy  thickets, 
growing  best  under  bushes  where  it  is  least  dis- 
turbed. The  joints  easily  become  detached,  sticking 
readily  to  any  disturbing  object. 

The  species  differs  from  Opuntia  retrorsa  in  its 
more  nearly  terete  joints  and  spreading  spines. 

Figure  282  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type 
plant;  figure  284  represents  a  joint  of  the  plant 
from  near  Tapia,  Tucuman. 

10 la.  Opuntia  guatemalensis  sp.  nov.    (See  page   fig. 
113,  ante.)  P 

Low,  spreading  plant,  resembling  O.  decinubetis,  but  joints  glabrous 
green,  sometimes  with  dark  blotches  below  the  areoles;  areoles  small,  filled  with  brown  wool,  sub- 
tended by  small  leaves;  spines  1  to  3  at  the  areoles,  terete,  acicular,  shining  white  with  blackish  tips 
when  young,  .soon  gray,  mostly  deflexed,  .somewhat  spreading;  flower-buds  reddish;  flowers  much  .smaller 
tiian  those  of  O.  dec/inibciis ;  petals  lemon-yellow,  2.5  cm.  long;  stigma-lobes  cream-colored. 

Collected  by  Dr.  Glover  B.  Wilcox  in  1909  while  acting  as  surgeon  on  a  ship  plying 
between  Guatemala  and  San  Francisco.  Living  specimens  were  sent  directly  to  Washing- 
ton and  flowered  there  in  April  1915. 

Figure  285   represents  a  joint  of  the  type  specimen. 


APPENDIX. 


219 


102a.  Opuntia  pennellii  sp.  ik)v.    (See  page  113,  iiiitf.) 

Plant  low;  joints  1  to  l.^i  cm.  long,  obov.ite,  turgid,  bright  green;  .spines  1  or  2  at  each  areole, 
nearly  porrect,  subulate,  3-5  cm.  long  or  less,  white  v\'ith  dark  tips;  glochids  not  very  conspicuous, 
yellowish. 

Collected  near  Magaiigue,  coastal  plain  of  Colombia,  Department  of  Bolivar,  at:  about 
100  meters  altitude,  by  Francis  \X''.  Pennell  in  1918.  Figure  286  shows  joint  of  type  plant. 

Here  may  belong  herbarium  specimens  which  we  have  seen  from  northern  Colombia  but 
with  the  material  at  hand  it  is  impossible  to  determine  them  definitely.  One  of  these  was 
collected  by  William  R.  Maxon,  April  10,  1906  (No.  38  19)  at  Puerto  Colombia.  This  plant 
is  described  as  consisting  of  3  to  6  joints,  branching  at  the  third  or  fourth  joint,  the  joints  all 
being  in  one  place.  The  flowers  are  yellow  and  small,  only  about  4  cm.  long,  including  the 
ovary.  Another  was  collected  by  H.  H.  Smith  near  Bonda  in  1898-1899  (No.  2728) ;  this  has 
joints  very  similar  to  those  of  Dr.  Pennell's  plant.    It  is  said  to  be  from  2  to  4  feet  high. 


Fig.  285. — Opuntia  guatemalensis.  xO.33.         Fig.  286. — Opuntia  pennellii.  xO.5.  Fig.  287. — Opun 

103a.  Opuntia  caracasana  Salm-Dyck,  Cact.  Hort.  Dyck.    1849.   238.    1850.    (Seepage  116, 
ante.) 

Stems  low,  bushy,  a  to  12  dm.  high;  joints  oblong,  10  to  12.5  cm.  long,  turgid,  pale  green, 
"leaves  scjuamiform,  minute";  spines  2  to  4,  unequal,  2.5  to  4.  cm.  long  or  less,  pale  yellow;  flowers 
and  fruit  unknown. 

Type  locality:  Near  Caracas,  Venezuela. 

Distribution:  Mountains  about  Caracas,  Venezuela. 

The  type  specimens  were  collected  near  Caracas  by  E.  Otto,  prior  to  1849.  Dr.  Rose 
found  the  plant  abundant  above  Caracas  in  1916.  It  usually  grows  on  exposed  hillsides 
near  the  top  of  the  divide  which  separates  Caracas  from  the  coast,  and  it  was  especially 
common  along  the  railroad  just  below  the  little  station  of  Zig  Zag.  Several  other  cacti  are 
to  be  found  in  this  neighborhood,  among  which  are  O.  elatior  and  O.  depauperata. 

Figure  287  shows  a  joint  of  the  plant  collected  by  Dr.  Rose  above  Caracas  in  1916. 

104a.  Opuntia  aequatorialis  sp.  nov.    (See  page  116,  a)ite.') 

Bushy,  much  branched;  1  to  1.5  meters  high;  the  branches  spreading  or  recurved;  joints  narrowly 
oblong  to  obovate,  1.5  to  2  dm.  long,  3  to  8  cm.  broad,  easily  becoming  detached;  spines  pale  yellow, 
at  first  only  2  to  4  but  more  in  age,  subulate,  2.5  to  6  cm.  long;  flower-buds  ovoid,  acute,  red;  petals 
few,  8  to  10,  orange-red,  .spatulate;  filaments  and  style   red;   stigmadobes   cream-colored. 


220 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Collected  in  thickets  on  dry  lulls  near  Sibambe 
J.  N.  Rose  and  George  Rose,  August  29,  1918  (No. 

The  locality  at  which  this  species  is 
found  is  semiarid  and  a  number  of  other 
cacti  are  associated  with  it,  among  which 
is  the  little  O.  pestifer,  described  on  a 
preceding  page.  O.  ciequatorialis  was  not 
so  common  as  some  of  the  other  species 
and  was  usually  found  growing  up  through 
open-branched  bushes  and  was  in  this  way 
more  or  less  protected. 

Figure  288  is  from  a  photograph  of 
the  type  plant  taken  by  George  Rose;  fig- 
ure 289  shows  one  of  its  joints. 

Il6a.  Opuntia  lata  Small,  Journ.  N.  Y. 
Bot.  Gard.  20:  26.  1919.  (See  page 
126,  ante.) 

Plant  prostrate,  often  radially  branched, 
sometimes  forming  mats  nearly  a  meter  in  width, 
the  tip  of  the  branches  sometimes  assurgent, 
with  elongate  cord-like  roots;  joints  elliptic  to 
narrowly  obovate,  often  narrowly  so,  thick,  4  to 
15  cm.  long,  deep  green,  sometimes  glaucous, 
especially  when  young;  leaves  subulate,  6  to  1 1 
mm.  long,  green  or  purple-tinged ;  areoles  scat- 
tered, often  conspicuous,  sometimes  very  promi- 
nent and  densely  bristly,  the  marginal  ones,  at 
least,  armed;  spines  slender,  solitary  or  2  to- 
gether, pink,  turning  red  or  red-banded,  at 
maturity   gray    or    nearly    white,    nearly    terete. 


Province  of  Chimbo 
!2.^32). 


Fir,.    289. — O.   .leqiint 


— O.  bt.i.  xO.4. 


Figs.  292  and  293.- 

Opiintia    macateei. 

xO.4. 


sli^litly  spirally  twisted;  flowers  usually  several  on  a  joint,  conspicuous;  sepals  subulate  to  lanceolate, 
acute;  corolla  yellow,  7  to  V  cm.  wide;  petals  numerous,  the  inner  ones  broadly  obovate  to  flabellate, 
erose  at  the  broad  minutely  mucronate  apex;  berries  clavate,  5  to  6.^  cm,  lon^,  red  or  reddish  purple, 
many-seeded;  seeds  about   5   mm.   in  diameter. 

Type  locality:  Twelve  miles  west  of  Gainesville,  Florida. 

Distribution:  Pinelands,  northern  peninsular  Florida. 

It  was  first  observed  by  Dr.  Small  near  Gainesville,  Florida,  in  1917,  and  plants  were 
taken  to  Mr.  Charles  Deering's  cactus  garden  at  Buena  Vista,  Miami,  where  it  has  grown 
luxuriantly,  flowering  and  fruiting  freely  alongside  of  (>.  />(//Liri///  which  it  resembles  in 
habit,  but  differs  from  in  its  long  clavate  berries  and  more  numerous  petals. 

Figure  290  shows  joints  of  the  plant;  figure  291   shows  its  fruit. 

127a.  Opuntia  macateei  sp.  nov.    (See  page  133,  cii;/e.) 

Small  prostrate  plant;  joints  2.5  to  6  cm.  long,  orbicular  to  obovate,  glabrous,  dull  green,  in  age 
somewhat  tuberculate;  leaves  linear,  10  mm.  long  or  less,  green;  spines  1  to  3,  brownish,  the  longer 
ones  up  to  2.5  cm.  long;  flowers,  including  the  ovary,  8  to  10  cm.  long,  7  to  8  cm.  broad,  yellow  with 
a  red  center;  ovary  subcylindric,  5  to  6  cm.  long,  bearing  conspicuous  leaves,  sometimes  12  mm.  long. 

Differs  from  related  species  by  its  small  joints  and  slender,  elongated,  leafy  ovaries. 
Collected  by  W.  L.  MacAtee  at  Rockport,  Texas,  December  28,  1910  (No.  1992). 
Figures  292  and  293  represent  the  joints  and  flower  of  the  plant. 

159a.  Opuntia   soederstromiana   sp. 

nov.   (See  page  154,  iiute.) 

Sometimes  spreading  and  bushy,  but 
usually  erect,  6  to  10  dm.  high,  very 
spiny;  joints  obovate,  2  to  4  dm.  long, 
bright  green  when  young,  or  sometimes 
slightly  glaucous,  grayish  green  in  age ; 
leaves  subulate,  small,  reddish  at  top; 
spines  at  first  2  to  5,  but  in  age  10  or 
more,  when  young  reddish  or  pinkish  at 
base  and  paler  above,  soon  gray  through- 
out, unequal,  subulate,  4  cm.  long  or  less ; 
flowers  at  first  yellow  but  soon  orange  to 
brick-red,  rather  large,  5  to  6  cm.  long; 
petals  few,  about  10,  oblong,  refuse;  fila- 
ments and  style  reddish ;  stigma-lobes  pale 
green ;  fruit  obovate  to  oblong,  4  to  5 
cm.  long,  usually  spiny,  red,  juicy,  with 
a  depressed  umbilicus. 

Collected  at  San  Antonio,  Prov- 
ince of  Quito,  Ecuador,  by  J.  N.  Rose 
and  George  Rose,  October  29,  1918 
(No.  23559). 

This    plant    was    first    collected 
for    us    by    Ludovic    Soderstrom    of 
Quito,   at   the   request   of   the    Presi- 
dent of  the  Central  and  South  Amer- 
ican     Cable      Company.      Although  "^"  "   '        i  """■'  -^''^-^^^  roim.m.i. 
great  care  was   taken   in   shipping  the  plants  they  all  died   in   transit.    In   1918  Dr.  Rose 
visited   Mr.   Soderstrom's   locality  and  collected   herbarium,   living,   and   formalin   material 
which  has  enabled  us  to  describe  the  plant  fully.    The  illustration  here  used  was  made  at 
the  same  time. 

Figure  294  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant  taken  by  George  Rose. 


,. 

^ 

P 

Wt 

^  ■ 

mjM 

^\'-  -i 

I^H 

1 

M^3i 

1  ^^^ 

^^BH 

B 

m 

'^i 

^ 

i 

i^HH 

w 

J*'    , 

- 

222 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


I6la.  Opuntia  zebrina  Small,  Jouni.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  35.  1919.  (See  page  155,  ante.) 
Plant  erect,  more  or  less  branched  tliroughout,  fully  1  meter  tall  or  less,  the  roots  fibrous,  joints 
oval  or  obovate,  thickish,  mostly  1  to  2  dm.  long,  deep  green,  sometimes  obscurely  glaucous;  leaves 
ovoid,  2  to  3  mm.  long,  bright  green;  areoles  scattered,  some  of  them,  usually  the  lower  ones,  un- 
armed, the  upper  ones  irregularly  armed ;  spines  slender,  solitary  or  2,  3,  or  4,  together,  red-brown, 
finely  banded,  nearly  terete,  closely  spirally  twisted:  flowers  few  on  a  joint,  or  solitary;  sepals  deltoid 
to  deltoid-reniform  or  nearly  reniform;  corolla  yellow,  rotate,  6  to  7  cm.  wide;  petals  rather  numerous, 
the  inner  ones  broadly  ovobate,  undulate,  minutely  mucronate  or  notched  at  the  apex;  berries  obovoid, 
not  constricted  at  the  base,  3.5  to  -i.5  cm.  long,  red-purple;  seeds  many,  6  to  7  mm.  in  diameter. 


Fig.  296.— Fruit  of 
O.    zebrin.!.    xO.5. 


-Opu, 

Type  locality:  Middle  Cape  Sable,  Florida. 

Distribiitio}!:  Coastal  sand-dunes,  Cape  Sable,  Florida,  and  the  lower 
Florida  Keys. 

The  plant  was  first  discovered  by  Dr.  Britton  on  Boot  Key,  Florida,  in 
1909,  and  this  is  the  most  northern  locality  yet  known  for  it.  The  species  is 
interesting  not  only  from  its  strikingly  banded  spines  but  also  as  being  the 
only  known  member  of  the  series  Elatiores  growing  wild  within  the  United 
States.  In  habit  it  resembles  0.  d'lllenn,  and  on  Key  West  the  two  species 
were  observed  growing  close  together. 

Illustration:  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi.  226. 

Figure  295  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  on  Cape  Sable,  Florida,  in  cultivation  at 
Buena  Vista,  Miami,  Florida;  figure  296  shows  a  fruit  collected  bv  Dr.  Rose  on  Key  West, 
Florida,  in  1918. 

173a.  Opuntia  keyensis  Britton  in  Small,  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  31.  1919.  (See  page 
162,  ante.) 
Plant  erect,  much  branched,  sometimes  forming  clumps  3  meters  tall,  with  long  fibrous  roots;  joints 
elliptic,  oval,  obovate,  or  spatulate,  thick,  1  to  3  dm.  long,  bright  green;  leaves  ovoid,  2  to  3  mm. 
long,  green ;  areoles  rather  conspicuous,  often  relatively  large  and  prominent,  apparently  unarmed ;  spines 
stout,  4  to  13  together,  very  short,  mostly  hidden  in  the  bristles;  at  first  pink,  at  maturity  salmon-col- 
ored, slightly  flattened;  flowers  solitary  or  2  or  3  on  a  joint;  sepals  deltoid  to  subieniform,  acute  or 
acutish;  corolla  .salmon-colored,  cup-like,  or  short-campanulate,  3  to  3.5  cm.  wide;  petals  rather  few, 
thinner  ones  broadly  obovate  or  orbicular-obovate,  undulate,  scarcely,  if  at  all,  mucronate;  berries  obo- 
void, 4  to  6  cm.  long,  purple;  seeds  numerous. 


223 


Type  locality:  Boot  Key,  Florida. 

Distrihutio)!:  Hammocks,  Florida  Keys  and  Cape 
Sable. 

OpHut'ia  keyetisis  was  first  collected  by  Dr.  Britten  in 
1909  on  Boot  Key,  Florida.  Plants  brought  subsequently 
by  Dr.  Small  from  the  Keys  to  Buena  Vista,  Miami,  and 
there  observed  by  him  under  cultivation  show  the  spe 
cies  to  be  distinct  from  either  0.  dilleiiii  or  O.  stricta 
with  both  of  which  it  has  been  associated. 

Illustration:  Journ.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard.  20:  pi.  225. 

Figure  297  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  plant  in 
cultivation  at  Buena  Vista,  Miami,  Florida;  figures  298 
and  299  show  its  flowers,  collected  by  Dr.  Small  on  Key 
Largo,  Florida,  in  1909.    See  also  plate  xxx,  figure  1. 

Hort. 


.ind   299.— Flower  of  Opu 
keyensis.    xO.5. 


183a.  Opuntia  bonplandii   (HBK.)    Weber,  Diet. 
Bois  894.    1898.    (See  page  168,  ante.) 

Cactus  bonplandii  Humboldt.  Bonphind.  and  Kunth,   Nov.   Gen.   et   Sp.   6:    69.     1S23. 
Plants  tall,   2  to  -i  meters  high,  open-branching;   joints  ovate  to  obovate,   2  to  3  dm.   long,   dull 
green;  spines  at  lirst  2  to  7,  pale  yellow,  acicular,  1  to  1.^  cm.  long  but  soon  falling  off;  flowers  orange- 
colored,  about  6  cm.  long  and  nearly  as  broad  when  fully  expanded;  petals  obtuse;  stamens  short. 

Type  locality:  Cuenca,  Ecuador. 
Distributio)!:  Ecuador. 

This  species  was  collected  by  Humboldt  and  Bonpland  at  Cuenca,  Ecuador,  and  was 
first  described  as  Cactus  (Opuntia)  bonplandii.   Apparently  the  type  was  not  preserved  as  Dr. 


224 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Rose  did  not  find  it  either  at  Berlin  or  Paris  in  1912.  Schumann  mentions  it  only  in  a  note 
under  O.  quhois'n  following  Weber  who  associates  the  two.  Dr.  Rose,  while  in  Ecuador  in 
1918,  spent  about  a  week  at  Cuenca  collecting  plants  in  all  directions  from  the  town.  The 
only  Opiint'ut  in  this  whole  region  is  the  one  above  described  which  grows  in  hedges  and  along 
the  roadsides.  It  may  be  an  introduced  species  which  has  escaped  from  gardens  but  we  know 
nothing  in  cultivation  just  like  it.    It  resembles  somewhat  the  Nopal  de  Castilla,  so  common 


Opuntia  bonplandii 


in  Mexico  and  the  southwestern  states  Humboldt  compared  it  with  the  tuna  de  Espana  which 
may  be  the  same.  Bonpland  seems  to  have  called  his  plant  Cactus  coccinellifer  which  it  very 
much  resembles  in  the  shape  of  the  joints  and  in  being  spineless  in  age.  If  we  are  right  in 
our  interpretation  of  this  species  it  has  no  close  alliance  with  0.  qu'itensis  which  Dr.  Rose 
collected  also;  it  has  very  small  flowers  with  erect  petals  which  are  not  readily  affected  by 
the  sun  as  are  those  of  O.  bouphiinii'i  and  most  of  the  other  species. 


Fir,.   301.— Op 


Figure  300  shows  a  joint 


:ted  by  Dr.  Rose  at  Cuenca,  Ecuadi 


1918. 


207a.  Opuntia  dobbieana  sp.  nov.    (See  page  187,  iiiitc.) 

Usually  low  and  bushy,  forming  dense  thickets,  but  .sometimes  tall  and  then  3  to  4  meters  high; 
joints  orbicular  to  short-oblong  or  obovate,  1  to  2.5  dm.  long,  pale  green  in  color,  very  spiny;  leaves 
minute,  1  to  2  mm.  long,  green,  spreading;  areoles  small,  closely  set;  spines  white,  5  to  12,  usually 
acicular  but  on  old  joints  subulate,  1  to  .S  dm.  long,  accompanied  by  2  to  4  reflexed  hairs  from  the 
lower  side  of  the  areole;  flower,  including  ovary,  5  to  6  cm.  long;  petals  chocolate-colored,  oblong,  2 
cm.  long;  filaments  and  style  pinkish;  stigma-lobes  dull  green;  ovary  strongly  tubercled,  leafy,  very 
spiny,  especially  towards  the  top;  fruit  juicy,   red,  at  first  spiny,  3  to  5  cm.  long. 

Common  in  dry  places  from  Huigra  to  Sibambe,  Province  of  Chimborazo,  Ecuador. 

Collected  by  J.  N.  Rose  and  George  Rose,  August  to  November  1918,  at  Huigra  (No. 
22201,  type)  ;  at  Sibambe,  August  29  (No.  22434). 

This  species,  on  account  of  its  white  spines,  is  referred  to  the  Styeptjcjiithue.  althoug'i 
it  usually  is  more  bushy  than  these  species  generally  are.  So  far  as  we  could  learn,  the  fruit 
is  not  used  by  the  Ecuadoreans;  the  plant  was  never  seen  cultivated,  and  there  is  every  rea- 
son to  believe  it  is  native  to  Ecuador. 

The  species  is  named  for  John  Dobbie,  general  manager  of  the  Guayaquil  and  Quito 
Railway,  whose  courtesies  and  assistance  added  greatly  to  the  success  of  Dr.  Rose's  visit 
to  Ecuador  in  1918. 

Figures  301  and  302  (the  latter  at  the  bottom  of  this  page)  are  from  the  photographs 
of  the  type  plant,  taken  by  George  Rose. 


INDEX. 


(Pat;ts   of   pr 


■ies    in   heavy-face   type.) 


Aaron's   beard,    175 

Ca 

-tui-~conli,i»ed. 

Aj;ave,   117 

moniliformis,  206,  2 

Ahoplocarpus,    11 

nanus,   2n 

Airampo,    161 

nigricans,   153 

Alfilerillo,  26 

opuntia,    1',,    m.    1_ 

Ammophilae,  45,  211 

opunli.l    iiurnus,    16 

Apple,  9 

Auiantiacae,  45,  74,  106 

opuntia  polyanthos. 

Ayrampo,  135 

opuntia  tuna.   157 

Barbados  gooseberry,   10 

opunti.refl(Uus,  27 

Basilares,  45,   118,   193 

ottonis.    121 

Beaucarnea.   117 

ovoides,  95 

Beaver-tail,   120 

paradoxus,   209 

Bigelovianae,  44,  58 

pentlandii,  98 

Blade  apple,  10 

pereskia,  9,   10,   11 

Brasilienses,  45,  209 

polyanthos,   113,    11 

Brasiliopuntia,  209 

portulacifolius,  23 

Bullsucker,  43,  116 

pseudococcincllifer. 

Cactaceae,  3,  8 

pusiUus,   105 

Cactales,  8 

rosa,   19,  20 

Cacti,  5,  6,  7,  9,  28,  33,  39,  42 

,  49 

66 

67,  80,  87,  94,  95, 

rotundifolia.  27 

111,  126,  137,  151,  216, 

219 

220 

salmianus,  74 

Cactodendron,  42,  43 

sericeus,  134 

Cactus,  5,  6,  8,  9,  23,  30,  32, 

34, 

35, 

43,  49,  87.  88.  93, 

spinosissimus,  204 

107,    113,    114,    116. 

120,    1 

1,    146,    164,    177, 

strictus,    l6l 

186,  207,  210,  215, 

.16, 

217 

221 

subinermis.   34 

Cactus,  arboreus,  209,  210 

subquadrifolius.  65 

aurantiacus,  107 

sulphureus,  134 

bleo,  17,  63 

tomentosus,   173 

bonplandii,  223 

triacanthos,   112 

bradypus,   121 

tuberculatus,  214 

brasiliensis,  209 

tuna.   113.   114,   163 

californicus,  58 

tuna  elatitir.  153 

chinensis,    156,    157 

tuna  nigricans,   153 

coccinellifer,   179,  224 

tunicatus,  65 

cochenillrfer,  34,  35,  173 

urumbeba,   156,   157 

compressus,  127 

urumbella,    157 

corrugatus,  95 

zinniaeflora,  21 

curassavicus,   102 

Camuessa,   191 

cylindricus,  63.  77 

Cane  cactus,  43 

decumanus,   180 

Cephalocereus,   116 

dillenii.   162.   163 

Cereeae,  8,  24,  215 

eburneus,  95 

Ce 

eus,   58,   75,    151,   215 

elatior,   153 

articulatus.  89 

elongatus,    179 

bradtianus.   215 

ferox,  199,  200,  206 

californicus,   58 

ficus-indica,    177 

chiloensis,  79 

fimbriatus,   13 

clavarioides,  73 

foliosus,  105 

cylindricus,   77 

fragilis,   193 

imbricatus,  65 

frutesccns,  27 

moniliformis,   206.   2 

heterocladus,  210 

nanus,   217 

horridus,  21 

humifusus,  127 

paradoxus,  209 

humilis,   113 

sericeus,  73 

indicus,   156 

serpens,  217 

lanceolatus.    179 

syringacanthus,  89 

linki,.   121 

tunicatus,  66 

liicidiis,    10 

c;h 

etopliorae.   174 

mammillaris,  4 

Ch 

(feyanae.  45,  213 

microdasys,  120,  121 

Ch 

.11a.  43.  61 

monocanthos,  156 

Cla 

varioides,  44,  72 

228 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Clavatae,  44,  79,  84 
Cola  de  diablo,  26 
Consolea,  42,  43,  202 

catacantha,  208 

ferox,  206 

leucacantha,  175 

rubescens,  43,  2()H 

spinosissima,  201 
Corotilla,  96 
Cow's  tongue,  164 
Criniferae,  140.  I'fi 
Cruciformes,  20S 
Cuija,  149 

Curassavicae,  45,  102,  lol,  106,  193 
Cylindropuniia,  32,  44,  45,  46,  71,  75,  79,  84,  100,  l42 
Dildoes,  105 

Dillenianae,  45,  159,  169 
Durasnilla,  175 
Echinocactus,  117 
Echinocarpae,  44,  56 
Echinocereus,  79,  215 
Elatae,  45,  152,  156 
Elatiores,  45,   149,   152,   155,   156,  222 
Epiphyllum,  9 

gaillardae,  6 
Erythrina,   181 
Espina,  76 
Espina  blanca,  41 
Espinha  de  Sao  Antonio,  19 
Etuberculatae,  72,  73 
Eupereskia,   10 
Ficindica,  42,  43 

Ficus-indicae.  45,  156,   166,  177,  191 
Floccosae,  44,  86 
Flor  de  Cera,  19 
Frutescentes,  73 
Fulgidae,  44,  67 
Fulvispinosae,    148 
Clomeratae,  44,  87 
Grandifoliae,  9,  11 
Grizzly  bear  cactus,  196 
Grusonia,  24,  215 
Grusonia  bradtiana,  215 

cereiformis,  215 
Guamacho,  17 
Harrisia,   24 
Hibiscus,  19 
Hibiscus  esculentus,   19 
Hylocereus,  24 
Imbricatae,  44,  60 
Inamoenae,  45,   125 
Inarmatae,  208 
Iniabanto,   19 
Lemaireocereus,   116 
Lemon  vine,   10 
Lengua  de  vaca,   164 
Leon,  96 
Leoncito,  96 
Leptocaules,  44,  46,  49 
Leucotrichae,  45,  174 
Loranthus  apliyllus,  ^9 
Macdougalianae,  45,  169 
Maihu^n,  40 
Maihuenia,  8,  24,  40-42,  43,  95 

brachydclphys,  41,  42, 

patagonica,  4l 

philippii,   41 

poeppigii,  4l,  42 


Mailiutnia — C(iiiiiniii;il. 

tehuelches,  41,  42 

valentinii,  40,  4l,  42 
Mai  us,  9 
Mammillaria,  4 
Mateare,  13 
Miquelianae,  44,  78 
Mission  cactus,  186 
Najij  de  Culebra,  19 
Nopal,  34 
Nopal  cardon,   184 
Nopal  de  Castilla,  224 
Nopalea,  8,  24,  33-39,  43,   155,  216 

auberi,  34,  37,  38,  39 

cochenillifera,   34,   181 

dejecta,  34,  36,  37 

gaumeri,  34,  37,  216 

guatemalensis,  33,  34,  35 

inaperta,  33,  34,  37,  38 

karwinskiana,  34,  37,  38,  39 

lutea,  33,  34,  35 

moniliformis,    33,    206 
Nopalefa,  26 
Nopalnochetzli,   35 
Ohulago,  103 
Olago,  103 

Opuntia,  8,  14,  24,  25,  30,  32,  33,  34,  38,  39,  40,  42-215, 
217-224 

acanthocarpa,  56,  57 

aciculata,  160,  165 

acracantlia,  91 

aequatori.ilis,    110,    116,    219,    220 

affinis,    169,    170 

airampo,    161 

albicans,   191 

albiflora,   73,   74 

alhisctosa,    134 

alcahes,   58,  67,  69,  '0 

alfagayucca,   185 

alfavucca,    185 

allairei,   126 

alpicola,   214 

alpina,  33 

alta,  165,  166 

americana,  214 

ammophila,  211 

amyclaea,   112,   177,    181,    185 

amyclaea   ficus-indica,    177 

anacantha,  107,   109,   110 

anahuacensis,  169 

andicola  clongata,  89 

andicola  fulvispina,  89 

andicola  major,  89 

andicola  minor,  90 

angusta,  101 

angustata,  124,  129,  140,  142,  149 

angustata  comonduensis,   124 

antillana,  110,  115,  163 

aoracantha,  90,  91 

aquosa,   29 

arborea,  209 

arborescens,  43,  63,  64,  65 

arborescens  versicolor,  62 

arbuscula,  47,   50,   51 

arechavaletai,    156,   158 

arenaria,   193,   194,   195 


229 


Opu 


209, 


argentina 
arizonica,   147,   148 
arkansana,    128 
articulata,  89 
assumptiiinis,    1S9 
atacamensis,  90.  94 
atrispina,   140,   142 
atropes.   164.   1~|) 
attulica.  214 
auberi,    ." 
aulacotliclL-.  95 


107 


ausfr  n.i,    1^    126.    130 
a^fuica,    1  10.    14.3 
bahanian.i,    202.   203,  204 
bahiensis,  209.  210,  211 
balearica.    161 
ballii.    137 
barbata.  214 
bai-bata  .macillima,  214 
bartramii.    181 

basilaris.    lis.    110.    120.    136 
basilan\.ilhi(l,H,i,  120 
basilans  ciic  i  iik.i    I  2(1 
ba,silansi,,iJaii,  i;i, 
hasil.insu.stata,  12(1 
hasilarisnana.  12ii 
KiMlansncv.ulciiMs.  120 
ba.silansptcisd(.rlhi.  120 
basilans  lanio^a,  I  1').  120 
basiiaris  lixltasci.  I  1^ 
beckenana.    168 
bella,    110.    Ill,    112 
bentonii.    161.    163 
bergeriana,   149,   152,   169 
beinaidina,   57,  81 
bernardina  cristata,   57 
bernhardinii,    214 
betancourt,    214 
bicolor.  214 
bigelovii,   58,   59 
blakeana.    144.    145 
boldingliii,   149,   155 
boliviana,   71,   97,   98 
bonaeiensis,  156,   158 
bonplandii,  160,   168,  223,  22 
borinquensis,    102,    103,   104 
brachyarthra,   193,   194 
brachydada,   120 
brachydelphis,    42 
biadtiana,    2 1 5 
brandegeei,    25,    28 
brasiliensis,  209,  210,  211 
bra.siliensis  minor.  210 
brasiliensis  sili,.nibui-,i;kii.  210 
bra.siliensis  spindsmr,  210 
brasiliensis  tenuilClia.  210 
brasiliensis  tciiuiur,  210 
brunnescens,  149,  150 
bulbispina,  79,  83 
bulbosa,   131 
burrageana,  67,  70 
cacanapa,  165,  166 
caerulescens,   51 
caesia,   144 


Opiintia— (c-«,'/;//<f.-/. 
caespitosa.    127 
calacantha,   214 
calacantha    rubra,   214 
calantha,    136 
californica,   58 
calmalliana,  60,  61 
calva,  89 

caman_liK-a,    I  u.    1-15 
canaiulu'.i  .ilhispm.i,  144 
caniaii.i|i,,(  Inn  .  .-Mniinea.  l44 
cam.il,    Ir.r  .   :|.  .  ,:l,!,is,  144 

cani.c    -:  :    144 


caiiada.  160,  16^,  168 
candelahiih.rmis.  182 
canJel.,h;.f.ii(ii.s    (imdior, 

cantal-in.mciisis,    i:i,    160, 
canterai.    159 
caracasana,  110,   116.  219 
cardenche.  64 
cardiusperma,    156,    157,    : 
cardona.    184 
caribaea,  47,  48,  49 
Carolina,  214 
carrizalensis.   79 
castillae,  185,  186 
cata-.an:ha,  43,   208 
cereiformis,  79,  215 
cervicornis.   194 
chaetocarpa.    182 
thaffeyi.  30,  212,  213 
chakensis,  158 


thK.n..,  ,.     1  ,:,     iS-i.    1 
chluroiK.i   sai,ia-.i:a,    14 
cholla,  60,  61,  62 
chrysacantha,    167 
ciliosa,  214 
ciribe.  58,  59,  60 
clavarioides,  72,  73 
cUivarioides  cristata,  73 


cla 


73 


81, 


cUivellma.  52.  54 
ciiccifera,   35 
ciiccinea.    114 
cochenillifera.   33,  34,  35 
cochinelifera.    34 
cochinera,    192 
coerulea,    134 
coindettii,    184 
Columbiana,    193 
comonduensis.    118.   124 
a.nfusa.    14^ 
congesta,  50 
consoleana,    214 
consolei,  214 
convexa,    165 
cordobensis,   181,   189 
cornigata,   95 


230 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Opui 


ntia — cotiiiniu'il. 
corotilla,  96 
CDtrugata,  91),  95 
corrugata   monvillei,   95 
costigera,  65 
covillei,  140,  145,  146 
crassa,   178,   179 
crassa  major,   178 
cretochaeta,   183 
crinifera,  159,   176 
crinifera  lanigera,   176 
cristata,  64 
cristata  tenuior,  64 
cruciata,   207 
crystalenia,   193 
cubensis,  163 
cucumiformis,  97 
cuija,   149,   167 
cumingii,  77 
curassavica,  102,  103,  11 


minima,  102 
minor,  102 
taylori,  103 

curvospina,  160 

cyanella,   165,   166 

cyclcdes,   147,   148 

cycloidea,  128 

cylindrica,  71,  75,  77 

cylindrica  cristata,  78 

cylindrica  cristata  minor,  78 

cylindrica  monstruosa,  78 

cylindrica  robustior,  78 

cymochila,   131,   132 

dactylifera,  97,  98 

darrahiana,  102,  106 

darwinii,  88,  90,  93,  94,  97 

davisii,  52,  54,  55 

deamii,  181,  187 

decipiens,  63,  65 

decipiens  major,  64 

decipiens  minor,  65 

decumana,  157,  180,   181,  18 

decumbens.  Ill,  116,  117,   1 

decumbens  irrorata.  117 

decumbens  longispina,  117 

deflexa,   157 

dejecta,  37 

dclaetiana,  149,  152 

delicata,  126,  132,  133 

deltica,   165 

demissa,   146,   147 

demorenia,  214 

demoriana,  214 

depauperata,  100, 

deppei,  214 

depressa.  111,  117 

deserta,  57,  58 

diademata,  89,  90 

diademata  calva,  89 

diademata  inermis,  89 

diademata  oligacantha,  89 

diademata  polyacantha,  89 

dichotoma,  214 

diffusa,   37 


216, 


118 


Opuntia — continued. 
digitalis,  72 
diguetii,  26,  29 
dillei,  147,  148 
dillenii,  106,  114,  115,  116,  n 

223 
dillenii  minor,  163 
dillenii  orbiculata,  163 
dimorpha,  96 
diplacantha,  184 
discata,  140,  149 
discolor,  107,  109,  218,  219 
distans,   149,   155 
dobbieana,   181,    187,   224,   22": 
dolabriformis,  207 
drummondii,   102,   104,  106 
dulcis,   165,   166 
durangensis,   169 
eborina,  214 
eburnca,  95 

tchini.ciip.i,    56,    57,    81 
eJiin,iC,irpani,i|or,  57 
■  ■.hniouiip.i  nud.i,  57,  58 
i.diinoLarp.1  parkeri,  57,  58 
echinocarpa  robustior,  57 
eichlamii,  181,  187,  188 
elata,  110,  156,  157 
elata  dclaetiana.   152 
elatior,   149,   153,  219 
elatior  defiexa,   157 
ellemeetiana,  75 
ellisiana,  166 
elongata,   179,   181 
elongata  laevior,  180 
emoryi,   80 

engelmannii,    140,    147,    148,   1 
cn£;elmannii  cuija,  167 
engelmannii  cyclodes,  147,  148 
engelmannii  dulcis.  165 
engelmannii  littoralis,  165 
engelmannii  monstrosa,  148 
engelmannii  occidentalis,  146 
eocarpa,  144 
erecta.   214 

erinacea.  193,  195.  196 
erythrocentron,    1"'4 
exaltata,  71,  75,  76,  77 
expansa,   147,   148 
extensa,  107 
exuviata,  63,  65 
exuviata  angustior,  63 
exuviata  major,  64 
exuviata  spinosior,  63 
exuviata  stellata.  63 

ferox,  206,   207 

ferruginispina,   165 

festiva,  214 

ficus-barbica,  177 

ficu,s-indica,  43,   156,   157,   17- 

191 
ficus-indica  albispina,  214 
ficus-indica  amyclaea,  185 
Bcus-incida  decumana,  180 
ficus-indica  gymnocarpa,  180 
filipendula,    137,    138 
flavicans,    191 
flavispina,  214 


i9,   164,  165,   167 


231 


Opuntia — continued. 
flexibilis,  114 
flexospina,  165 
floccosa,  71,  86,  87 
floccosa  denudata,  86,  87 
floribunda,   74 
foliosa,  105,  106 
formid,ibilis,  91.  92 
fr.imlis,   193,   194 
Ir.imlisbiadiyarthra,  193 
fuLiilis  t.ic^pitosa,  193 
t  ragihs  f  i-utcscens, 
fragilis  tuberiformis,  193 
frustulenta,   104,   105 
frutescens,   47,   48 
f  rutescens  brevispina,  47,  48 
frutescens  longispina,  47,  48 
fulgida,  67 
fulgida  mamillata,  67 
fuliginosa,   149,   155 
fulvispina,   174 
fulvispina  badia,  175 
fulvispina  laevior,  175 
furiosa,  66 
fuscoatra,   126,   133 
fusicaulis,  191,  192 
fusilformis,   130,   131 
galapageia,  45,    149,    150,    151,    152 
galeottii,  65 
geissei,  78 
gilliesii,    91 
gilva,  163 
gilvescens,    149 
gilvoalba,   165,   166 
glaberrima,   178 
glauca,  178 
glaucescens,  200,  201 
glaucophylla,  214 
glaucophylla  laevior,  214 
glomerata,  87,  89,  90,  94,  96 
glomerata  albispina,  90 
glomerata  flavispina,  90 
glomerata  minor,  90 
golziana,  26 
gomei,  165,  166 
gorda,  191,  192 
gosseliniana,   140,   141,   151 
gracilis,  47 
gracilis    subjatens,  48 
grahamii,  79,  83,  84 
grandiflora,   126,   127,   129 
grandis,   200,  201 
grata,  92,  94,  95 
greenei,  131 
gregoriana,  147,  148 
griffithsiana,  165 
grosseiana,  107,  110 
guanicana,   208 

guatemalensis,   110,   113,  218,  219 
guerrana,   191,   192 
guilanchi,  173,  174 
gymnocarpa,   180 
haematocarpa,  166 
haitiensis,  206 
hanburyana,    149,    153,    154 
hattoniana,    103 
helleri,   150,   152 
liempeliana,  86,  87 


Opunm—conlinufd. 
Iiernandezii,    181 
licteromorph; 
hevernicki],   214 
hickenii,  90,  92  93 


79 


.tch, 


humifusa  greenei,   1S2 
bumifusa  macrorbiza,  128 
humifusa  microsperma,  127 
humifusa  opiocarpa,  128 
humifusa  parva,  127 
humifusa  stenochila,  128 
liumifusa  vaseyi,  146 
humilis,  113,  114 
humistrata,   120 
hypsophila,  71,  72 
hypti,icantha,   176,    181,   183,    184 
hystricina,   193,   197 
hystrix,  65,  66 

ignescens,  90,  98 

ignota,  90,  99 

imbricata,  48,  5  5,  60,  63,  64,  65,  66 

imbricata  crassior,  63 

imbricata  ramosior,  64 

imbricata  tenuioi,  64 

in.iequahs,    128 

inaequ. lateralis,    181,    187,    188,   189 

mamoena.   121,    125 


nca 

n.id 

ila. 

85,  186 

ner 

nis. 

161, 

162,   163 

nsu 

aris. 

150 

152 

nte 

meJ 

a.  I. 

7,  128 

nte 

med 

a  prostrata,   1 

ntri 

cata. 

119 

nvic 

ta,  79 

nvo 

uta. 

87 

thypet.i 


luniperina,   193,   197 

jussieuii,  214 

karwinskiana,  38 

keyensis,   159,   162,   163,  222,  223 

kiska-loro,    107,   108 

kleiniae,  47,  51,  64,  65 

kleiniaecristata,  51 

kleiniae  laetevirens,  51 

kunzei,   SO 

labouretiana,   180,   189 


labouretiana 


lacrocarpa 


laevis,   159,   If 
lagopus,  86,  87,  88 
lanceolata,  177,  179 
lanigera,  176 
larreyi.   191 


lasiacantha,  181 
lata.  126,  220 
laxiflora,  165 
I  ledienii,  153 


182,  183,  184 


232 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


npunlia—cuiilitt/ieii. 
lemaireana,    156 
leonina,  96 
leptarthra,  101 
leptocarpa,  166,  167 
leptocaulis,  47,  48,  49,  73,  213 
leptocaulis  brevispina,  47 
leptocaulis  laetevirens,  48 
leptocaulis  longispina,  47 
leptocaulis  major,  48 
leptocaulis  stipata,  47 
leptocaulis  vaginata,  47 
leucacantha,    174,    175 
leucacantha  laevior,  175 
leucacantha  subfetox,  175 
leucantha,  175 
leucophaea,  96 
leucoslata,  214 
leucosticta,  174 
leucotricha,  151,  174,  175 
leucotricha  fulvispina,   174 
ligustica,  128 

lindheimei-i.  44,  148,  16(),  164,  165,  166 
UnJhcimc,  LVclM.ks,  1  i- 


|,„JI,c,incu  lut>ii..l,s,  16S 

luidlK-:mcii  uLciJcuah^,  146 

linguiformis,  l6o,  163 

littoralis,   147,   16(),   164,   165 

lloydii,  60,  63 

longiclada,  l6l 

longiglochia,   214 

longispina,  95 

lubrica,  118,   119 

lucayana,  106,  163 

lucens,  149 

lucida,   214 

lurida,  173 

macateei,   126,   133,  220,  221 

macdougaliana,   169,   170,   171 

mackensenii,  137,  138,  139 

macracan.ha,   187,  202,  203,  204,  205 

macrarthra,   126,   129 

ma:rocalyx,   118,   122 

macrocentra,  140,  141,  176 

macrophylla,  214 

macrorhiza,  126,  127,  128,  130,  131,  139,  166 

maculacantha,  134 

maelenii,  134 

magenta,  142,   146 

magna,  64 

magnarenensis,  147 

magnifolia,  34 

maihuen,  41 

maldonadensis,  75 

mamillata,  67,  68 

maiitima,   162 

maxillare,  77 

maxima,  177,  180.  181 

media,  199,  200 

mediterranea,   128 

megacantha,  178,   181,   182,   185,   186 

megacantha  lasiacantlna,  182 

megacantha  tenuispina,  184 

megacantha  trichacan;ha,  186 

megacarpa,    145 

megalanJha,  169 

megalai-lhra,  192 


intia — ioni'tnncd. 
megarhiza,    137 
mendocienses,  65 
mesacantlia,  127,  132 
mesacantha  cymochila,  131 
mesacantha  grandifloia,  12 
mesacantha  greenei,  131 
mesacantha  macrorhiza,  1 3 
mesacantha  microsperma, 
mesacantha  oplocarpa,  131 


chii,  176 
mexicana,  34 
micrarthra,  171 
microcarpa,  144,  206 
microdasys,   118,   120,   121,   122,   1 
microdasys  laevior,  120 
microdasys  minor,  120 
microdasys  rufida,  122 
microdisca,  133,  135,  136 
microthele,  73 
mieckleyi,  156,  158 
militaris,  102,  104,  163 
miUspaughii,  202,  204,  206 
minima  americana,  102 
minor,  139 
minor  caulescens,  102 
miquelii,  78 
missouriensis,   199,  200 
missouriensis  albispina,  199,  200 
missoiii.cnsiMK.n.uai.i,  214 
missiiui  !■  nsis  cu  lliiiislemma,  214 
missoiMK  MMs  iiiR  i.ispi_-niia,  199,  2( 
missiiip  >  1:       1  ',i:\  I  M  p.i,  1<)9,  200 
missiiir  I   ■:         ■.1.1,1,  I')'),  200 


choph. 


195 


missouriensis 
modesta,  67 
mojavensis,    140,   145 
molesta.  54,  60,  62,  66,  67 
mona:anlha,   127,  156,  157 
monacantha  deflexa,  156 
monacantha  gracilior,  156,  157 
monacantha  variegata,  157 
monihformis.  33,  202,  206,  207,  208 
montana,  214 
montevidensis,    ur,    109 
monticola,  95 
morenoi,  214 
morisii,    128 

mortolcnsis,  47 

nniltiilora,    113,   114 

myriacantha,   150,   152,  214 

nana,   127,   217 

nashii,   106,   163,  202,  203 

nelsonii.   172 

nemorahs,   102,   104 

neoarbuscula,  50 

nigricans,   152,   153 

nigrispina,  90,  97 

nigrita,  183,  184 

nopalilla,  38 

oblongata.    173 

occidcntalis.   140,    146,   147,    15^.    163, 


233 


Opuntia — continued. 

()lij;acan;ha,   89,    182 


sp.iHhiana,  214 
6'i,  66 


p.inyi,   56,   57,   58,  81 

paiva.    161 

parv.spma.   117 

parvula,   178 

pascuensis,  100,   101 

pata^'onica,   41 

pelaguensis,  90 

penicillige-a,   135 

pennellii,   110,   115,  219 

pentlanttii,  ^1,  72,  77,  90,  97,  98 


pu- 


ph 


103,  217,  2 
39,  140,  1 
.miiea,  144 


pliaeacantha  nigiican.s,  144 
philippii,  41 
pliyllacantha,  96 
phyllantluis,   215 
piccolomini,  214 
piccoluminiana,   191 
pilifera,   176,   177,   184 
pintadera,    176 
pititaclie,   29 
pittieii,    181,    188,   189 

pl.ilyac.iiuha   Jc-fk-xispina,   89,  90 
platyai.antha  ,t;iacilioi-,  89 
platyacantha   monvillei,   89 
platyclada,  214 
platynoda,   109 
plunibea,  126,  131 
plumosa  nivea,  89,  90 
poeppigii,  40,  41 

p..liatantlia,   l')x   195,   196,   197,   199,  200 


Opuntia — coni'tnuccl. 

polyacantha  watsonii,  199 
polyantlia,   113,   114,    115 
polynidi-plia,  89 
porteri,  28 
pottsii,   137,    138 
praecox,  214 


P''"' 


ihc-ns 


160,   167 
67,  69,  70 


pseuddlun 

1,    ISl,   z\ 

J 

pseudotiii 

1    <.lnn,i;.it.i 

21- 

pseudcun 

1    spill. .sin 

n 

puberuL, 

1 1".  1 1", 

121, 

pubescuis 

101),    !i)i 

173 

pulchella, 

79,   82 

pulverata, 

214 

pulveiuler 

ta,   78 

pulveiuk-i 

fa  miqueh 

i,  78 

quimilu,   181,   190,   191 
quipa,   125 

quitemis,  149,  154,  224 
rafinesquei,    127,    128,    129 
rahncsquci  arkansana,  12^,  129 
rahncsqufi  Lynn.cliila,  131 

rafint'stjiKi  tusituimis,  130 
rafinesqiR  I  uMiidillma,  129 
rafinesqiKi  mumi.  i  =,2 
i-afinesqiRi  ni.kr.irhiza,  131 
rafine.sqiiLi  niu k ispL-mia,  127,  199 
rafinesqiiLi  nun. 11,  1:7,  ijg 
rafinesquei  paiva,  128 
rafinesquei  stenochila,  132 
rafinesquei  vaseyi,  146 
lafinesquiana,   127,   129 
lahnesquiana   aitcansana,    129 
lahmeri,   9-1 

ramulifera,  47 

rastrera,    140,    149 

rauppiana,  90.  92 

recedens,    128 

recondita,  52,  53 

recurvospina,    144 

leflexa,   165 

repens,  102,  103,  104,   115,   116 

reptans,  214 

retrorsa,  107,  109,  218 

retrospinosa,  95 

rhodantlia,   193,  197,  193 

rhodantha  bri 


rnodantha  brevispina,  : 
I  rhodantha  flavispina,  1 


234 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


Opuntia — continued. 

rhodantha  pisciformis,  198 

rhodantha  schumanniana,  198 

riparia,  149 

robusta,   182.   191,   192 

lobusta  vindior,  191 

rosea,  17,  63,  65,  78 

roseana,  130 

rosiflora,  78 

rotundifolia,  27 

roxburghiana,  156 

rubescens,   163,  202,  208,  209 

rubiflora,  133,  146 

rubiifolia,   144 

rufescens,  175 

rufida,   118,   119,   122 

rugosa,  145 

lussellii,  90,  94 

luthei,  64 

rutila,  196 

sabinii,   194 

sacharosa,  14 

salicornioides,  215 

salmiana,  73,  74 

salmii,  214 

sanguinocula,   131 

santa-rita,   140,   142 

scheeri,  159,  n6 

schickendantzii,  74,   107 

schomburgkii,  214 

schottii,  79,  80,  81 

schottii,  greggii,   80 

schumannii,  90,  149,  155 

schweriniana,    199,   200 

segethii,  75,  76,  79 

seguina,   130 

semispinosa,    147 

senilis,  86,   159,   176 

sericea,  134 

sericea  coerulea,  134 

sericea  longispina,  134 

sericea  maelenii,  134 

serpentina,   56,  57,   58,  69,  81 

setispina,  45,  137,   138 

shaferi,  71,  72 

shreveana,   142 

sinclairii,  165,  166 

skottsbergii,  90,  96,  97 

soederstromiana,  149,  154,  221 

soehrensii,  133,  134,  135 

spathulata,   2S,   29 

spathulata  aquosa,   30 

speciosa,  214 

spegazzinii,  73,  74 

sphaerica,  90,  96 

sphaerocarpa,   193,   198,   199 

sphaerocarpa  utahensis,   199 

spinalba,  130 

spinaurea,  214 

spiniflora,  215 

spinosior,  52,  67,  68 

spinosior  neomexicana,  68 

spinosissima,   103,   175,  202.  204,  205 

spinotecta,  64 

spinulifera,   178,  181,   182 

spinuliflora,   214 

spinulosa,  214 

splendens,  199 


Opuntia — continued. 
squarrosa,    165 
stanlyi,  79,  80 
stapelia,  66 
stapeliae,  65,  66 
stellata,  64 
stenarthra,   158 
stenochila,  126.  132- 
stenopetala,  200,  201 
straminea,  214 
streptacantha,  181,  184,  185 
stricta,  159,  161,  178,  223 
stricta  spinulescens,  214 
strigil,   136 
subarmata,   165,   166 
subferox,    175 
subinrmis,   214 
Mibtiianta,  90,  92 
subulata,  71,  75,  76.  77,  79 
bulphuici.  133,  134,  150 
sulphurea  laevior,  134 
sulphurea  major,  134 
sulphurea  minor,  134 
sulphurea  pallidior,  134 
superbospina,    144 
syring.ic.intha,   89 
tapona,  124,  160,  164 
tarapacana,  90,  94 
lardospina,   140,  141 
t.iylori,   102,   103 


49 


37,   139 


tesajo,  47,  48,  49 
tessellata.  Ad 
tessellata  cristata,  46 
testudinis-crus,  206 
tetracantha,  52,  53,  54 
texana,  165,   166 
thurberi.  52,  53,  54 
tidballii,    160 
tcimentella,   173,   174 
tomentosa,    173,   174 
tortisperma,    131,    132 
tortispina,    126,   128,   131,   194 
toumeyi,  144 


racy]. 


105 


trcleasei,   118,   119 

treleasei   kernii,    119 

triacantha,  110,   112,   113,   115,  204 

tribuloides,   IS6 

tricolor,   165,    166 

trichophora,   193,   195 

tubLTiformi's  "i;^ 

tuherosa,   32,   33 

tuherosa  spinosa,  89 

tuna,   110,   113,  114,   116,  149,   157,   163 

tuna  humihs,   114 

tuna  l.ievior,   114 

luna  orbiculata,    114 

tunicita,  60,  65,  66,  83,   121 

tunicala  laevior,  66 

tunoidea,    116,    162 

tunoides,   116 

turpinii,  89 

turgida.  2 1 2a 

turpinii  polyniorpha.  89 

tweediei,    134 


235 


( )piintia — Cdittiniied. 
umbrella,   156 
undosa,    177,    179 
undulata,   65,    177,    179 
ursina,  174,   195,   196,   197 
urumbella,   157 
utahensis,   198 
utkilio,   107   109,   110 
vaginata,   47,   48 
valida,    147 

vaseyi,   14(),   142,   145,   146 
velutina,    169,    172 
verschaffeltii,  44,  71,  72 
verschaffeltii  digitalis,  71,  72 
versicolor,  44,  52,  54,  60,  62 
vestita,  71,  72,  87 
vexans,  64,  65 
vilis,  79,  82,  83 
violacea,   144 
virgata,  47 
viridiflora,  52,  55 
vivipara,  52 
vulgaris,   127, 
vulgaris  balearica,  161 
vulgaris  major,  127 
vulgaris  media,  127 
vulgaris  minor,  127 
vulgaris  nan,  127,  129 
vulgaris  rafinesquei,  127 
vulgo,    157 
vulpina,   134 
wagneri,  74 
weberi,  84,  85 
wentiana,   110,  116 
whipplei,  31,  43,  52,  55,  68 
whipplei  laevior,  55 
whipplei  spinosior,  68 
wilcoxii,   169,   172 
winteriana.    166 
wcHitonii,   147,   148 
wnghtii,   51 

xanthoglochia,    130,    131 
xanthostemma,  198 
xanthostemma  elegans,  198 
xanthostemma  fulgens,  198 
xanthostemma  gracilis,  198 
xanthostemma  orbicularis,  198 
xanthostemma  rosea,  198 
xerocarpa,    198 
youngii,  130 
zebrina,   149,   155,  222 
zacuapanensis,   183 
zuniensis,  144 
Opuntiacei,  217 
Opuntieae,  8,  24 
Orbiculatae,  45,  176 
Palmadora,  202 
Palmadorae,  45,  201 
Palmatoria,    202 
Pataquisca,  ^6 
Peirescia,  9 
Peireskia,  9 
Pentlandianae,  44,  90 
Perescia,  9 

Pereskia,  8-24,  25,  26,  40,  75 
acardia,   10 
aculeata,  10,  11,  14 
aculeata  lanceolata,  10 


56,  157,   163,  177 


Pereskia — conihiiuil. 
aculeata  latifolia,  10 
aculeata  longispina,  10 
aculeata  rotunda,  10 
aculeata  rotundifolia,  10 
aculeata  rubescens,  10 
affinis,  24 
amapola,  14 
argentina,  14 
autumnalis,  9,  11,  12 
bahiensis,  9,  19,  20 
bleo,  4,  9,  17,  18,  20 
brasiliensis,    10 
calandriniaefolia,  29 
colombiana,  9,   17, 
conzattii,  9,  24 
crassicaulis,  29 
cruenta,   24 
cubensis,  9,  22 
foetens,  10 
fragrans,   10 
glomerata,  94 
godseffiana,   10,   11 
grandiflora,  24 


lychnidiflora,  9 
moorei,  9,  15 
nicoyana,  9,    13 


philippii,  41 

pititache,   29 

plantaginea,   24 

poeppigii,  41 

portulacifolia,  9,  22,  23,  24 

rosea,  17 

rotundifolia,  27 

sacharosa,  9,   10,   14,   15 

spathulata,  28,   29 

subulata,  75,  76 

tampicana,  9,  17 

undulata,   10 

weberiana,  9,   15 

zehntneri,  9,  13,  14 

zinniaeflora,  9,   17,  20,  21 
Pereskieae,  8,  24 
Pereskiopsis,  8,   14,   17,  24,  25-30,  43 

aquosa.    25,   29 

autumnalis,    11,    12 

biandegeei,   28 

chapistle,  25,  27 

diguetii,  25,  26,  27 

kellermanii,  25,  30 

opuntiaeflora,   25,   26,   27 

pititache,  25,  29 

porteri,  25,  28 

rotundifolia.  25,  27,  28 
spathulata,  25,  28 
velutina,  25,  26 
Pereskiopuntia,   25 


THE  CACTACEAE. 


99,  100,  135,  21 


Pest  pear.  161.  163 
Phac-icanthae,  45,  136.  139, 
Pin  pillow.   102 
Platyiipuntia.  45,  73,  84,  92 
Polar  bear  cactus,  87 
Pi)lyacanth.ae.  45,  193 
Pcrtulaca.  9 
Prickly  pear.  43.  212 
Pterocactus,  24,  30-33 

Jecipiens,  32,  33 

fischeri,  31 

hickenii,  31 

kuntzei,  30,  32,  33 

kurtzei,  32 

pumilus,  31,  32 

tuberosus,  31,  32,  33 

valentinii,  88 
Pubescentes,    l4l 
Puipute.    13 
PumiLae,  45.  100 
Quiabentd.    14 
Quimilo.    190 
Quipa,    125 
Ramo.sissimae,  44.  46 
Rhipsalis,  8 
Robustae,  45,  191 
Sacacil,  214 
Sacharosa,  10,  14 
Salmianae,  44,  73,  75 
Scheerianae,  45,  159 
Sempervivuin  tomentosum,  41 
Setispinae,  45,  136 
Spear-shaped  opuntia.   179 
Spinosissimae.  43.  45,  201,  202,  203. 
Stenopetalae.  45,  200 
Stenopuntia,  200 
Streptacanthae.   45,    112,    156,    177,    If 


72,  79.  84,  85,  90,  95,  97, 


Strigiles,  45,   136 
Subulatae,  44,  71,  75 
Sucker,  43,  103 
Sulphureae,  45,  133,  135 
Tacinga,  24,  39,  40 

funalis,  38,  39 
Tapuna  pear,  192 
Tasajillo,  26,  30 
Tasajo,  43 

macho,  63 
Tephrocactus,  42,  43,  44,  71 
106,    135 

andicolus,  89 

aoracanthus,  91 

calvus,  89 

diadematus.  43.  89 

platyacanthus,  89 

pusillus,   106 

rctrospinosus,  95 

turpinii,   89 
Teretes,  71 
Thurberianae,  44,  52 
Tomentosae,  45,  172 

Tortispinae,  45,  104,  126,  130,  133,   136,   193 
Tuna,  35,  43,   114,   181,   186 
Tuna  cardona,  184 
Tuna  elatior,  153 
Tuna  de  agua,  30 
Tuna  de  Espana,  224 
Tuna  major,  163 
Tunae,  45,  110,  116,  148 
Vestitae,  44,  71 
Weberianae,  44,  84 
West  Indian  gooseberry,    10 
Wilcoxia,   6 
Zamia  pumila,  181 
Zygocactus,  9 


From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  252.  Insert  on  page  30. 
11.    Pereskiopsis  scandens  sp.  nov. 

Slender,  climbing  or  clambering  over  walls,  up  to  10  meters  long;  branches  terete,  grayish, 
smooth;  areoles  circular,  white-woolly  when  young,  gray  in  age,  with  a  short  spine  (5  mm.  long) 
and  a  bunch  of  brown  glochids  in  the  upper  edge;  leaves  ovate,  1.5  to  2  cm.  long,  glabrous,  acute; 
flowers  yellow,  from  the  areoles  on  old  branches,  appearing  in  June;  fruit  maturing  slowly  (perhaps 
requiring  2  to  3  years  to  ripen),  very  narrow,  5  to  7  cm.  long,  somewhat  tubercled,  with  a  deep  umbi- 
licus; seeds  few. 

Living  specimens  of  P.  scandens  were  sent  by  Dr.  George  F.  Gaumer  from  Izamal, 
Yucatan,  Mexico,  in  July  1921  (type).  It  was  also  collected  by  A.  Schott  at  Merida  in 
1865  (No.  409). 

From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  252. 

Withdraw  the  name  Pereskia  zehiitiieri  from  page  14,  vol.  I,  and  substitute  the  follow- 
ing at  the  end  of  Pereskiopsis  on  page  30: 

la.  QUIABENTIA  gen.  nov. 
A  low,  leafy,  much  branched  shrub  with  numerous  horizontal  branches,  usually  in  whorls;  leaves 
fleshy  but  flattened,  stiff,  borne  at  right  angles  to  the  branches;  areoles  large,  white-felted,  often  with 
numerous  spines ;  these  acicular  and  white,  the  upper  part  of  areole  bearing  glochids ;  flowers  terminal, 
very  large,  bright  red ;  ovary  leafy,  very  narrow ;  stamens  numerous,  a  little  shorter  than  the  style,  much 
shorter  than  the  petals;  style  short  and  stiff;  stigma-lobes  very  short,  obtuse;  seeds  white,  a  little  flat- 
tened, covered  with  a  hard  bony  aril  as  in  Opuntia. 

A  monotypic  genus,  native  of  the  semiarid  region  of  Bahia,  Brazil.  The  generic  name 
is  from  quiabento,  the  native  name  of  the  plant. 

1.    Quiabentia  zehntneri  Britton  and  Rose. 

Pcie.tkia  zehiilneri  Britton  and  Rose,  C.ictace.ie  1:  1-1.  1919. 
Flowers  at  ends  of  branches,  large,  7  to  8  cm.  broad,  3  to  4  cm.  long,  bright  red,  appearing  in 
November ;  petals  broad,  retuse ;  ovary  borne  in  the  upper  end  of  the  branch,  very  narrow,  3  to  4  cm. 
long,  bearing  the  usual  leaves,  areoles,  and  spines  of  the  branches;  fruit  oblong  to  ciavate,  6  to  7  cm. 
long,  1.5  cm.  in  diameter  at  the  top,  slightly  angled  by  the  low  elongated  tubercles  running  downward 
from  the  small  scattered  areoles,  and  finally  without  leaves,  spines,  or  bristles,  sterile  below,  with  thick 
fleshy  walls  and  with  a  small  narrow  seed-cavity;  umbilicus  broad,  slightly  depressed;  seeds  thick  with 
flattened  sides  rounded  on  the  back,  5  mm.  in  diameter. 

In  its  large,  red,  rotate  flowers  this  plant  at  once  suggests  a  Pereskia.  Its  red  flowers 
are  so  similar  to  those  of  P.  bahiensis  of  the  same  region  that  at  first  we  considered  the  two 
species  congeneric.  Now  that  we  have  studied  the  fruit  and  seed  it  is  evident  that  P.  zehnt- 
neri belongs  to  a  very  different  genus.  Then,  too,  the  old  areoles  develop  deciduous  spines 
or  bristles  which  are  doubtless  glochids;  these  occur  on  the  upper  part  of  the  areoles  but 
do  not  form  the  definite  brush  of  the  Opiintiae.  These  glochids  would  exclude  it  from  the 
Pereskieae.  It  must  therefore  be  referred  to  the  Opuntieae  and  next  to  Pereskiopsis.  In  its 
broad,  thick  leaves  it  resembles  that  genus,  but  its  flowers  are  terminal,  very  large,  and  rotate; 
its  fruit  is  much  elongated  and  the  seeds  are  glabrous. 

We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Leo  Zehntner,  a  very  keen  observer,  for  many  fine  specimens 
and  much  information  regarding  it.  He  has  found  it  only  on  a  small  calcareous  mountain 
near  the  city  of  Bom  Jesus  da  Lapa,  Brazil,  but  it  has  been  transplanted  to  the  Horto  Florestal 
of  Joazeiro  where  it  is  well  established  and  where  it  flowered  three  years  after  being  replanted. 
In  1915  Dr.  Rose  brought  living  specimens  to  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  from  this 
stock   (No.    19722). 


APPENDIX. 
From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  255.  Insert  on  page  94. 


Fig  2Vi.— Opun 


64a.     Opuntia  wetmorei  sp.  nov 

Forming  low  mounds  of  considerable  extent  with  hundreds  of  branches;  joints  4  to  10  cm.  long, 
terete,  turgid,  2.  cm.  in  diameter  or  less,  slightly  tapering  towards  each  end,  dull  green,  but  dull  purple 
around  and  especially  below  the  areoles;  leaves  subtending  the  minute  areoles,  1  to  2  mm.  long,  cadu- 
cous; areoles  circular,  bearing  tawny  or  white  wool  when  young;  glochids  short,  yellowish;  spines 
numerous,  very  unequal,  scarcely  pungent,  white  to  straw-colored  or  brownish,  3  or  4  of  lower  ones 
almost  hair-like,  reflexed  or  appressed  to  joints,  3  or  4  of  uppermost  erect  or  ascending,  flattened,  2  to 
3.5  cm.  long;  flowers  not  known;  immature  fruit  glabrous  at  first,  dull  green,  becoming  reddish  purplt 
especially  about  the  areoles,  3  cm.  long,  bearing  long  white  bristly  spines,  especially  from  upper  areoles. 
deeply  umbilicate. 

Collected  by  W.  B.  Alexander  in  the  barranca  of  the  Tunuyan  River  near  Tunuyan, 
Mendoza,  Argentina,  March  22  and  23,  1921. 

This  species  is  perhaps  nearest  Opuntia  darwiiiii.  We  are  under  great  obligation  to  W. 
B.  Alexander  for  sending  us  very  fine  living  plants  by  Alexander  Wetmore,  who  brought 
them  to  us  directly  from  Argentina.  Mr.  Wetmore  was  with  Mr.  Alexander  when  the  plant 
was  collected  and  he  has  given  us  a  word  picture  of  the  plant;  we  take  pleasure  in  naming 
the  species  for  him,  not  only  in  recognition  of  this  service  but  also  for  obtaining  other  val- 
uable specimens  of  cacti. 

Figure  2.34  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  type  plant,  one-half  natural  size. 


From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  256.  Insert  on  page  99. 
76a.     Opuntia  alexanderi  sp.  nov. 

Low,  depressed,  formini;  a  small  clump;  joints  readily  detached,  grayish  green,  strongly  tubercled, 
globose,  2  to  3  cm,  in  diameter,  nearly  hidden  by  the  numerous  spines;  areoles  small,  close  together, 
circular;  spines  4  to  12,  up  to  4  cm.  long,  flexible,  white  below,  dark  above  or  with  black  tips,  scurfy- 
pubescent  even  in  age ;  flowers  not  known ;  fruit  red,  dry,  obovoid,  2  cm.  long,  lower  areoles  not  spiny, 
but  upper  ones  bearing  2  to  8  long,  white,  erect,  weak  spines  overtopping  the  fruit;  umbilicus  of  fruit 
depressed ;  seeds  white,  5  to  6  mm.  broad. 

Collected  by  W.  B.  Alexander,  between  Chilecito  and  Fanatina,  province  of  La  Rioja, 
Argentina,  February  19,  1921.  Mr.  Alexander  studied  this  species  in  the  field  but  could  not 
identify  it  and  sent  it  to  us  for  study.  It  belongs  to  the  subgenus  Tephvocactus.  but  is  not 
near  any  of  the  known  species.  We  take  great  pleasure  in  naming  it  for  Mr.  Alexander, 
who  has  extensively  studied  the  cacti  in  Argentina. 


From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  257.  Insert  on  page  102. 
80a.      Opuntia  abjecta   Small,  sp.  nov. 

Prostrate,  often  growing  in  large  irregular  patches  on  almost  bare  limestone  or  where  some  sand  and 
humus  has  accumulated,  irregularly  branched ;  joints  suborbicular,  sometimes  nearly  subglobose,  oval,  or 
broadly  obovate,  mostly  4  to  >S  cm.  long,  very  thick,  frequently  turgid,  light  green,  loosely  attached  to 
each  other;  leaves  ovoid  to  conic-ovoid,  2  to  3  mm.  long,  ascending  and  slightly  curved  upward,  green 
or  purplish ;  glochids  yellowish ;  spines  setaceous-acicular,  mostly  solitary,  brown,  or  reddish  purple,  mot- 
tled light  and  dark,  becommg  chalky  gray  when  dry;  the  larger  ones  2  to  6  cm.  long;  flowers  usually 
solitary  on  a  joint;  berry  urceolate,  1  to  1.5  cm.  long,  somewhat  tuberculate,  red  or  purple-red,  rounded 
at  base;  umbilicus  relatively  broad,  concave;  seeds  few,  flattish,  about  4  mm.  wide. 

On  edge  of  hammock,  southern  end  of  Big  Pme  Key,  Florida.  Type  collected  in  May 
1921  by  J.  K.  Small,  preserved  in  the  herbarium  of  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden. 

Similar  to  Opuntia  druuiniondii  but  with  shorter  joints,  longer  and  more  slender  spines, 
and  different  fruit. 


From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  257.   Insert  on  page  105. 

86a.    Opuntia  impedata   Small,  sp.  nov. 

Prostrate,  ultimately  copiously  branched,  the  joints    often    piled    several    layers    deep    and    forming 
viciously    armed    mats,    elliptic   or   oblong,    mostly    1    w    1  =>    cm.    long,    rather    thick,    pale   green;    leaves 


-Uru.uia  impc 


stout-subulate,  4  to  6  mm.  long,  erect  or  ascending,  slightly  curved  upward,  dark  green;  glochids  brown- 
ish; spines  subulate,  usually  numerous,  solitary  or  2  together,  light  gray,  except  the  brown  tip,  salmon- 
colored  when  dry,  and  faintly  banded  when  wet;  flowers  often  several  on  a  joint;  ovary  obconic,  nearly 
terete;  sepals  green,  outer  lanceolate  to  ovate,  -4  to  8  mm.  long,  acuminate,  the  inner  much  larger,  with 
shoulders  of  very  broad  body  narrowed  into  stoutish  tip;  corolla  bright  yellow,  4.5  to  5.5  cm.  wide; 
petals  about  12,  2.5  to  3  cm.  long,  broadly  obovate  to  cuneate-obovate,  broadly  rounded  at  apex,  mu- 
cronate;  anthers  nearly  2  mm.  long;  berry  clavate,  about  3  cm.  long,  narrowed  at  base;  umbilicus  rather 
small,  somewhat  concave;  seeds  rather  few,  4  to  4.5  mm.  in  diameter. 

Sand  dunes,  northeastern  Florida.  Type  in  the  herbarium  of  the  New  York  Botanical 
Garden;  collected  on  dunes  at  Atlantic  Beach,  Florida,  in  April  1921,  by  J.  K.  Small. 

Dr.  Small  notes  that  the  stiff  spines  may  penetrate  leather  shoes  and  that  the  plant  is 
very  prolific,  both  vegetatively  and  through  its  fruit. 

Figure  235  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Dr.  Small  of  the  type  plant. 


From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  258.  Insert  on  page  110. 

Series  ia.    PISCIFORMES. 
Plants  in  dense  colonies  with  turgid,  very  spiny,  narrow,  deep  green  joints,  the  spines  conspicuously 
long  and  slender,  salmon-colored  in  the  first  year,  gray  in  the  second;  flowers  numerous,  bright  yellow; 
berry  turbinate-obovoid,  4  cm.  long  or  less.     The  only  species  inhabits  Florida. 

96^?.  Opuntia  pisciformis  Small  sp.  nov. 

Prostrate,  copiously  branched,  forming  dense  mats  often  1  to  3  meters  in  diameter,  with  joints  piled 
several  layers  deep,  roots  fizrous;  joints  narrowly  elliptic,  linear-elliptic,  or  spatulate,  mostly  1   to  3  dm. 


Upunna  piscitormis. 


long,  very  thick,  deep  green,  readily  detached;  leaves  stout-subulate,  2  to  4  mm.  long,  incurved;  areoles 
rather  prominent,  mostly  armed;  spines  solitary  or  2  or  3  together,  cream-colored,  becoming  salmon-col- 
ored and  gray  with  a  dark  tip  when  dry,  salmon  when  wet,  the  longer  ones  5  to  6  cm.  long;  flowers 
numerous;  ovary  turbinate,  angular  and  tuberculate;  sepals  green,  the  outer  lanceolate  to  triangular- 
lanceolate,  9  to  12  mm.  long,  acuminate,  the  inner  much  larger,  the  broad  ovate  or  suborbicular  base 
broadly  tapering  into  the  very  stout  tip;  corolla  bright  yellow,  6  to  7.5  cm.  wide;  petals  about  12,  3  to  4 
cm.  long,  broadly  cuneate,  mostly  truncate  or  emarginate  at  apex,  mucronate;  anthers  nearly  2  mm. 
long;  berry  broadly  turbinate-obovoid,  3.5  to  4  cm.  long,  purple,  narrowed  at  base,  the  umbilicus  deeply 
concave;  seeds  rather  numerous,  5  to  5.5  mm.  in  diameter. 

Sand  dunes,  estuary  of  the  Saint  Johns  River,  Florida.  Type  in  the  herbarium  of  the 
New  York  Botanical  Garden;  collected  on  dunes  at  Atlantic  Beach,  Florida,  in  April  1921, 
by  J.  K.  Small. 

Figure  236  is  from  a  photograph  by  Dr.  Small  of  the  type  plant. 


From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  260.   Insert  on  page  130. 
121a.    Opuntia  eburnispina  Small,  sp.  nov. 

Prostrate,  widely  branched  and  forming  mats  on  dune  sands,  witli  tuberous  roots;  joints  oval  or 
suborbicular,  varying  to  broadest  above  middle,  thickish,  6  to  13  cm.  long,  pale  green,  somewhat  shining, 
especially  when  young;  leaves  ovoid-subulate,  4  to  5  mm.  long,  pale  green,  recurved-spreading;  spines 
relatively  stout,  2  to  4  at  an  areole  or  sometimes  solitary,  1  to  2  cm.  long,  ivory-white  with  yellowish  tips 
when  young,  becoming  dark  gray,  not  spirally  twisted,  greenish  when  wet;  flowers  few;  ovary  obconic; 
sepals  triangular,  green,  5  to  7  mm.  long;  corolla  clear  yellow,  4  to  5  cm.  wide;  petals  few,  narrowly 
cuneate,  often  minutely  pointed ;  berries  obovoid,  2  cm.  long  or  less. 

Coastal  sands,  Cape  Romano,  Florida.  Type  specimens  in  the  herbarium  of  the  New 
York  Botanical  Garden;  collected  in  May  1922,  by  J.  K.  Small. 

Figure  237  is  from  a  photograph  by  Dr.  Small  of  the  type  plant. 


Fig.  237. — Opuntia  eburnispina 


APPENDIX. 

From  Appendix  Vol.  IV,  page  261.  Insert  on  page  133. 

1 29a.      Opuntia   macbridei    sp.  nov. 

A  low  bush,  6  dm.  high,  forming  broad  impenetrable  thickets  on  gravelly  river  flats;  joints  obovate, 
6  to  8  cm.  broad,  8  to  15  cm.  long,  glabrous,  at  tirst  light  green,  in  age  dark  green;  leaves  minute,  1  to 
2  mm.  long,  caducous;  areoles  on  young  joints  hemispheric,  brown-felted  and  with  brown  glochids,  on 
old  joints  2  to  3  cm.  apart;  spines  2  to  4,  in  age  gray  to  horn-colored,  with  yellowish  tips,  very  un- 
equal, the  longest  up  to  5  cm.  long,  stout-subulate;  flowers  very  small,  orange  to  orange-red;  petals 
only  4  to  5  mm.  long;  ovary  tuberculate,  bearing  many  brown-felted  tubercles  but  without  spines,  deeply 
umbilicate;  fruit  deeply  umbilicate,  red  to  purple. 

Collected  by  Macbride  and  Featherstone  at  Huanuco,  Peru,  altitude  2,300  meters, 
August  28  to  September  3,  1922   (No.  2365,  type),  and  April  8,  1923  (No.  3250). 

Mr.  Macbride  states  that  the  seeds  are  b'-own.  All  the  fruits  we  have  seen  were  sterile; 
these  sterile  fruits  on  falling  to  the  ground  take  root  and  form  new  plants. 


Opuntia  macbridei 


This  interesting  plant,  which  pro\es  to  be  undescribed,  we  have  named  for  Mr.  J.  Francis 
Macbride,  who  led  the  Botanical  Expedition  of  1922  to  South  America,  sent  out  by  the  Field 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  under  the  Captain  Marshall  Field  fund. 

Figure  238  is  from  a  photograph  showing  the  habit  of  this  plant. 


Keep  this  card  in  the  book  pocl<et 
Book  is  due  on  the  latest  date  stamped 
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}a>)ood  >|ooq  gy;  ui  pjeo  s\{^\  daa>i_ 


